while away
phrasal verb·1 sense·particle away
Meanings
Spend time in a relaxed or pleasant way
Why “away”? Something slowly becomes weaker until it is gone.
“They whiled away the afternoon reading.”
“We whiled away the delay playing cards.”
Test yourself
“They whiled away the afternoon reading.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
chip away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually reduce something a little at a time
die away
Same away pattern: fading
Lose intensity until silent
drift away
Same away pattern: fading
Slip out of awareness slowly; Gradually become less close to someone
eat away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually destroy something by erosion or worry
ebb away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually weaken or recede
explain away
Same away pattern: fading
Give reasons that make a problem seem less serious
fade away
Same away pattern: fading
Gradually become less visible, audible or strong
fall away
Same away pattern: fading
Decrease in number or amount
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