# interim

/ˈɪnɝəm/ (US) · /ˈɪntəɹˌɪm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/interim
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. temporary or transitional

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

temporary and intended to last only until something permanent is ready.

For teachers: serving as a temporary or provisional arrangement during a transitional period.

- The board appointed an interim director while they searched for a permanent replacement.
- The interim government was tasked with maintaining order and organizing national elections following the sudden collapse of the previous administration.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

### 2. middle or halfway

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

happening in the middle of a process, like a report that comes before the final one.

For teachers: occurring or provided between two points in time; often used for financial or progress reports.

- The company released an interim report showing that profits had increased since January.
- The researchers published an interim analysis of the clinical trial data to ensure the safety of the participants before proceeding to the final phase.

Usage: Frequently collocates with 'report', 'results', or 'analysis'.

### 3. the time between

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the period of time between two events.

For teachers: an intervening period of time between two events or states.

- The new manager starts in October; in the interim, Sarah will lead the team.
- The treaty has been signed but not yet ratified; in the interim, both nations have agreed to a ceasefire.

Usage: Almost always used in the prepositional phrase 'in the interim'.

## Examples

- The vice president will lead the company in the interim.
- The board appointed a temporary director for the interim while they interviewed candidates for the permanent role.
- In the interim between the old law's expiration and the new legislation's passage, local authorities operated under a set of emergency guidelines to prevent administrative chaos.

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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.