All the while Meaning in English
expression
ˈɔɫ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈhwaɪɫ/, /ˈwaɪɫ
AWL thuh WYL
ˈɔːl/ /ðə, ði/ /wˈaɪl
AWL thuh WYL
Definition
Used to show that something was happening continuously during the same period when something else was occurring.
Usage & Nuances
Fairly neutral and common in both spoken and written English. Often contrasts two actions, showing one was happening without interruption while another occurred. Can add emphasis to something being unnoticed or happening in the background.
Spanish: todo el tiempo - durante todo ese tiempoPortuguese (BR): o tempo todo - durante todo esse tempoPortuguese (PT): todo o tempo - durante todo esse tempoChinese (Simplified): 一直 - 自始至终Chinese (Traditional): 一直 - 自始至終Hindi: पूरे समय - उसी समयArabic: طوال الوقت - في أثناء ذلكBengali: সব সময় - সেই পুরো সময় জুড়েRussian: всё это время - всё времяJapanese: ずっと - その間ずっとVietnamese: suốt thời gian đó - trong suốt lúc đóKorean: 내내 - 그동안Turkish: tüm o süre boyunca - o esnadaUrdu: پوری مدت - سارا وقتIndonesian: selama itu - sepanjang waktu itu
Example Sentences
She smiled at us all the while.
basic
He watched TV all the while I was studying.
basic
The cat slept all the while we cooked dinner.
basic
She acted like nothing was wrong, all the while hiding her true feelings.
natural
I thought he had left, but he was there all the while, listening.
natural
They complained about the noise, all the while making even more themselves.
natural