Advertisement
Advertisement
meantime
/ ˈ³¾¾±Ë²ÔËŒ³Ù²¹Éª³¾ /
noun
- the intervening time or period, as between events (esp in the phrase in the meantime )
adverb
- another word for meanwhile
51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins
Compare Meanings
How does meantime compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
In the meantime, Caltrans rented the houses out and, as many deteriorated over the years, left dozens of them vacant.
In the meantime, as he contemplates what’s next after the cancellation of his TV series “The Old Man,†Bridges says “Slow Magic†has reignited his desire to make music.
In the meantime, Hochman retains the right to try to enforce state law as he sees fit.
In the meantime, the president is allowing two months for both sides to agree a deal.
In the meantime, though, it leaves a team that was built to have ample pitching options this season in a suddenly precarious place for the next few weeks.
Advertisement
Related 51³Ô¹Ïs
More About Meantime
What doesÌýmeantime mean?
Meantime means the period of time between two events—between the current time and the time when something else happens.
This sense of the word is especially used in the phrase in the meantime, as in The power will come back on soon, so let’s just enjoy the quiet in the meantime.Ìý
The word meanwhile can also be used as a noun to mean the same thing as meantime, but this is much less common.
Meanwhile is much more commonly used as an adverb meaning in or during the time between the current time and the time when something else happens, as in Our guests will arrive in about an hour—meanwhile, let’s get the food ready. Meanwhile can also mean at the same time, as in When I got to my apartment, I realized I had forgotten my key—meanwhile, everyone was already hiding inside for my surprise party.Ìý
Meantime can also be used as an adverb in both of these ways, but it is much more commonly used as a noun.
Example: Our guests won’t arrive for another several hours, so I’m going to take a nap in the meantime.
Where doesÌýmeantime come from?
The first records of meantime come from the 1300s. The mean in meantime is the sense of the word that means “occupying a middle position or an intermediate place.â€
Meantime is often used in discussions that involve things happening or being done while waiting for something else to happen. It’s also commonly used in descriptions of events happening at the same time.
Did you know ... ?
What are some synonyms for meantime?
- meanwhile
- concurrently
- simultaneously
- at the same time
What are some words that share a root or word element with meantime?Ìý
Ìý
What are some words that often get used in discussing meantime?
How isÌýmeantime used in real life?
Meantime is a very common word that can be used in all kinds of contexts. It’s especially used in the phrase in the meantime.Ìý
TypeScript 4.2 is so close! In the meantime, we've just published our Release Candidate!
Try the RC today and let us know how better type display, faster inference, and other new features work for you!
— TypeScript (@typescript)
I can’t wait to see a bit of countryside, but in the meantime I’m grateful for Leicester’s marvellous parks and the beautiful blue sky this morning.
— Lucy Phillips 💙 (@lucy_r_p)
In this morning's public hearings of the Victorian Electoral Matters Committee Inquiry we've heard from fact-checking organisations and . See hearing transcripts in 3 – 4 weeks at Meantime, they're both worth following.
— Tim Read (@TimRRead)
Ìý
Ìý
Try usingÌýmeantime!
Is meantime used correctly in the following sentence?Ìý
My younger sister just got engaged—meantime, I can’t even get a date!
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse