in a little while
Not much longer
In a little while means soon, after a short period of time has passed.
The phrase suggests a wait that feels manageable rather than burdensome—longer than "in a moment" but shorter than "eventually." I'll be ready in a little while.
Check back in a little while and see if he's awake.
The vagueness is often intentional, allowing speakers to avoid committing to a specific timeframe.
- shortlyIn little time
- soonIn brief time
- in a minuteVery soon, briefly delayed
- in a bitSoon, but not immediately
- before longIn the near future
won't be long · later · ere long · in the near future · anon · in no time · imminently · in a jiffy · in two shakes · anticipation · expectancy · any minute now · pause · before you know it · impending · quickly · hold on · looming
in a little whileimmediately
Without any pause
right now · instantly · at once · this instant · straightaway
in a little whilenever
At no point
eventually · someday · in due course · in the long run · indefinitely
little, while, eventually, awhile, momentarily, in a moment, in due time