Word
meantime
Phoneticsmean·time, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈminˌtaɪm/
UK/mˈiːntaɪm/
Definitions
01the time in between
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the period of time between now and a future event.
n. the intervening time between two events; almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in the meantime'.
Español:entretanto
“The repairman will be here at three o'clock; in the meantime, let's have some tea.”
“The board will not reach a final decision until next month; in the meantime, the current policy remains in effect to ensure operational continuity.”
Usage
Almost always appears as 'in the meantime' to function as a transitional phrase.
02meanwhile
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. at the same time that something else is happening.
adv. during the intervening time or at the same time; functions as a sentence adverb to connect two simultaneous or sequential situations.
“Meantime, the rest of the team was busy preparing the presentation.”
“The primary investigators focused on the chemical analysis; meantime, the field agents continued to gather witness testimonies across the city.”
Usage
Usually placed at the beginning of a sentence to link it to the previous context.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “meantime” in context.
Verb
01. bridge the meantime
“The government provided temporary subsidies to bridge the meantime before the new policy took effect.”
verb + noun
02. fill the meantime
“He decided to fill the meantime by catching up on his correspondence while waiting for the flight.”
verb + noun
03. occupy the meantime
“She occupied the meantime with light reading until her appointment was called.”
verb + noun
Preposition
04. for the meantime
“We are looking for a permanent office, but this co-working space will do for the meantime.”
prep + noun
05. in the meantime
“The new software will be ready in June; in the meantime, we will continue using the old version.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“In the meantime, hundreds of families have been unable to properly cook, clean, wash or even flush their toilets.” “But in the meantime, a man and his family are in an intolerable position.” Etymology
From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/meantime
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0