while away
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To spend (time) idly but pleasantly.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
trôi qua thời gian một cách vô tư nhưng dễ chịu
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Heaven knows what pains the author has been at, what bitter experiences he has endured and what heartache suffered, to give some chance reader a few hours' relaxation or to while away the tedium of a journey.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To elapse, to pass.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “while away” mean?
To spend (time) idly but pleasantly.
Is “while away” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.