different between whilst vs simultaneous

English

Alternative forms

• whilest (obsolete)
• whylst (obsolete)
• whylest (obsolete)

Etymology

From whiles +? -t. Surface analysis while +? -st (“excrescence”). Cognate with West Frisian wylst (“whilst”). More at whiles.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /wa?lst/, /hwa?lst/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /w??lst/

Conjunction

whilst

1. (Britain, rare or literary in North America) While, at the same time.

   Synonyms: while; see also Thesaurus:while

Usage notes

In American English, whilst is considered to be pretentious or archaic. Penguin Working Words recommends while only, and notes that whilst is old-fashioned. Cambridge Guide to English Usage and M-W's Webster's Guide to English Usage comment on its regional character, and note that it is rare in American usage. It is thus safer to use only while in international English. The American Heritage Guide writes that, "while using whilst runs the risk of sounding pretentious, it can sometimes add a literary or ironically formal note to a piece of writing".

Translations

Further reading

• while on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• whilst in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “whilst”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• “whilst”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

English

Etymology

From Medieval Latin simultaneus, from simultim (“at the same time, extended”), from Latin simul (“together, at the same time”); compare similar.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /s?m.?l?te??n.i.?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?sa??m.?l?te??n.i.?s/
• Rhymes: -e?ni?s
• Rhymes: -e?n??s

Adjective

simultaneous (not comparable)

1. Happening at the same moment.
2. (mathematics, of a set of equations) To be solved for the same values of variables.

Antonyms

• (happening at the same moment): sequential

Derived terms

• simultaneously
• simultaneity
• simultaneous interpretation / simultaneous interpreting

Translations