While Away vs. Wile Away – Which is Correct?
Both while away and wile away are grammatically correct phrases, but they carry slightly different connotations. While away is the more common and generally accepted phrase meaning to spend time idly or pleasantly. Wile away implies a more deliberate or artful act of passing time, sometimes with a sense of clever diversion.
While Away or Wile Away – Which is Correct?
While both phrases are considered grammatically correct, their usage often hinges on a subtle distinction in meaning rooted in their core verbs. While away uses “while” as a verb meaning “to pass time,” often idly or pleasantly, without much specific purpose. It simply refers to the act of spending time. Wile away, on the other hand, uses “wile” (meaning a trick or artifice) as a verb to suggest spending time by means of cleverness, charm, or subtle diversion. However, in modern English, the distinction has largely blurred, and “while away” is significantly more common and broadly applicable.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| While away | Phrasal Verb | To spend time, often idly or pleasantly. | We decided to while away the afternoon reading by the lake. |
| Wile away | Phrasal Verb | To spend time, often by diverting oneself cleverly or artfully. | She would wile away the hours telling fascinating stories. |
How to Use While Away
The phrase “while away” is used to describe the act of spending time, usually in a relaxed, idle, or pleasant manner. It implies that the time is not being used for a specific, urgent purpose, but rather to pass it without much effort or goal. It’s a common idiom for occupying oneself during a period of waiting or leisure. It carries a neutral to positive tone, suggesting a leisurely passage of time.
Example 1: On vacation, we love to while away the mornings sipping coffee and watching the waves.
Example 2: He brought a book to the waiting room to while away the time until his appointment.
Example 3: The children spent the rainy afternoon whiling away the hours with board games.
What are the different forms of While Away?
“While away” acts as a phrasal verb. Its forms follow the conjugation of the verb “to while”:
- Present Tense: while away (I while away), whiles away (he whiles away)
- Past Tense: whiled away (they whiled away)
- Present Participle/Gerund: whiling away (we are whiling away)
- Past Participle: whiled away (time whiled away)
Etymology of the word While Away
The verb “while” in “while away” comes from the Old English noun hwīl, meaning “a space of time.” By the 15th century, “while” began to be used as a verb meaning “to pass time, spend time.” The addition of “away” emphasizes the act of making time pass or causing it to elapse, reinforcing the sense of duration and often idleness.
How to Use Wile Away
The phrase “wile away” also means to spend time, but it carries a slightly different nuance. It implies using some form of artifice, charm, or clever diversion to make the time pass, or to make it seem shorter and more pleasant. The verb “wile” itself means to entice, beguile, or trick, often in a charming way. While often used interchangeably with “while away,” “wile away” can suggest a more active and imaginative effort to occupy oneself, or even to deceive oneself into thinking time is passing faster.
Example 1: With nothing else to do, she would wile away the long evenings by knitting intricate patterns.
Example 2: The storyteller could wile away the children’s afternoon with captivating tales.
Example 3: They tried to wile away the anxiety of the wait with lighthearted conversation.
What are the different forms of Wile Away?
“Wile away” acts as a phrasal verb. Its forms follow the conjugation of the verb “to wile”:
- Present Tense: wile away (I wile away), wiles away (she wiles away)
- Past Tense: wiled away (he wiled away)
- Present Participle/Gerund: wiling away (they are wiling away)
- Past Participle: wiled away (hours wiled away)
Etymology of the word Wile Away
The verb “wile” in “wile away” comes from the Old English noun wīl or wigle, meaning “trick, stratagem, cunning.” It is related to “guile.” By the 14th century, “wile” was used to mean “to deceive or trick.” The phrase “wile away” emerged later, applying this sense of cunning or artifice to the passing of time, suggesting that time is “tricked” into passing more quickly or pleasantly through diversion.
Related Concepts
The subtle difference between “while away” and “wile away” highlights the importance of connotation in language. Connotation refers to the emotional associations and implied meanings that words carry beyond their literal definitions. While both phrases share a similar denotation (to spend time), “while away” connotes simple, often passive, passage of time, whereas “wile away” connotes a more active, perhaps even artful or strategic, diversion of time. Understanding these subtle shades of meaning allows for more precise and impactful communication, ensuring your word choice aligns perfectly with the intended tone and implication.
Examples from Media and Literature
- “They had nothing better to do than while away the hours watching the clouds drift by.” – Common usage
- “With a good book and a comfortable chair, one can easily while away a lazy Sunday afternoon.” – Modern English expression
- “She would wile away the lonely evenings by writing letters to distant friends, her imagination filling the void.” – Suggests active, perhaps artful, diversion
- “The old sailor would wile away his retirement days carving intricate wooden figures, his nimble fingers belying his age.” – Implies skill and deliberate occupation
- “In the quiet of the library, students often while away study breaks by scrolling through social media.” – Reflects modern leisure activities
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
- On the long flight, I plan to ________ the time by watching movies.
- The children tried to ________ away the rainy afternoon with a board game.
- With clever stories and riddles, the old man could ________ away an entire evening.
- We used to ________ away the summer holidays building forts in the woods.
- She hoped to ________ away the discomfort of the wait by focusing on her breathing.
Answer Key
- while (or wile, though ‘while’ is more common for simple passing of time)
- while (or wile, ‘while’ is more common)
- wile (implies cleverness, artful diversion)
- while (or wile, ‘while’ is more common for general activity)
- wile (implies actively diverting oneself from discomfort)
While Away Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Pass time | To spend a period of time doing something. |
| Spend time | To occupy oneself during a period. |
| Occupy oneself | To keep busy or engaged. |
| Idle | To spend time doing nothing in particular. |
| Lounge | To sit, lie, or stand in a relaxed or lazy way. |
Wile Away Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Beguile | To charm or enchant someone, sometimes in a deceptive way; also, to trick (someone) into doing something. |
| Divert oneself | To turn one’s attention from something, especially to amuse oneself. |
| Amuse oneself | To occupy oneself in an entertaining way. |
| Entertain oneself | To provide oneself with amusement or enjoyment. |
| Charm away | To use charm to make something (like time) pass. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “wile away” ever incorrect?
No, “wile away” is not incorrect. It is a valid phrase with a distinct etymology, though its usage has become less common and often overlaps with “while away” in modern speech. Some might consider it archaic or overly formal, but it remains grammatically sound.
Question 2: What’s the origin of “while away”?
“While away” originates from the Old English noun “hwīl” (a space of time), which evolved into a verb meaning “to pass time.” The addition of “away” emphasizes the consumption or passing of that time.
Question 3: Can I use “while away” and “wile away” interchangeably?
While many people use them interchangeably in casual conversation due to their similar sounds and meanings, there is a subtle distinction. “While away” is for general time passing, often idly. “Wile away” implies a more active, perhaps artful or strategic, diversion of time. For most contexts, “while away” is the safer and more common choice.
Conclusion
Both “while away” and “wile away” are correct phrases in English, each carrying a slightly different historical and connotative weight. “While away” is the more common and broadly accepted phrase for simply passing time idly or pleasantly. “Wile away” suggests a more deliberate, artful, or charming way of diverting oneself to make time pass. While the distinction has blurred over time, understanding the nuances can enhance your precision in writing. Choosing “while away” is usually safe and clear, reserving “wile away” for instances where you truly wish to imply a clever or beguiling manner of passing time.
Pro Tip: When in doubt, “while away” is the more universally understood and less likely to be questioned. Opt for “wile away” only when you intend to emphasize the element of clever diversion or artifice.
