while away

VERB

dally

Synonyms

STRONG

boondoggle drag idle lag linger loiter lollygag procrastinate putter tarry trail

WEAK

fool around fool with fritter away hang about horse around jerk off play around play games with put off trifle with waste time

Antonyms

STRONG

complete finish go hurry leave rush

WEAK

hasten push

VERB

spend

Synonyms

STRONGEST

consume devote employ go kill put in waste

STRONG

drift fill fritter idle laze misuse pass squander

WEAK

fool around let pass

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build create misuse

STRONG

save take use

WEAK

be lazy earn get receive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Working his acoustic guitar with a French horn accompaniment — French horns! — he dares us to balance our relentless socioeconomic drive with our deep need to hang out, to while away the hours.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

Any such changes in U.S. accounting rules would be a while away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

I covered City against Leeds on Saturday and they got lucky, while away from home they have lost three times already.

From BBC • Dec. 1, 2025

The men, who have known each other since their earliest days in Los Angeles politics, now form a political odd couple while away from their families in California.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2024

He was probably as tired of reading newspapers and Central Committee documents as we were, so he had decided to let us while away the time by ourselves.

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang

while away

Example Sentences

Related Words