After a while
Example: After a while, the rain finally stopped and the sun came out.
Definition
"After a while" is an expression used to indicate that some time has passed before an event occurs or a change happens, often implying a delay or interval between two moments, as in the phrase 'After a while, the rain finally stopped and the sun came out.'
Etymology
The phrase "after a while" combines "after," originating from Old English 'æfter,' meaning 'behind in place or time,' and "while," from Old English 'hwīl,' meaning 'a period of time.' Together, they naturally express the concept of something occurring following a period of time. Did you know this simple phrase has been commonly used in English for centuries to describe timing in everyday conversation?
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"After a while" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A2) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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