# in the meantime

idiom · CEFR C1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/in-the-meantime
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

the period of time between two events. You use this when you are waiting for something to happen and you do something else during that wait.

## Examples

- I will cook dinner in the meantime.
- The train is delayed by an hour, so we can grab a coffee in the meantime.
- While the committee deliberates on the final policy, the staff will continue their current projects in the meantime to ensure no progress is lost.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.