meantime
n. · adv.-
1 the time in between (n.) B1 Intermediatethe period of time between now and a future event.
the intervening time between two events; almost exclusively used in the prepositional phrase 'in the meantime'.
ExampleThe repairman will be here at three o'clock; in the meantime, let's have some tea.
ExampleThe board will not reach a final decision until next month; in the meantime, the current policy remains in effect to ensure operational continuity.
UsageAlmost always appears as 'in the meantime' to function as a transitional phrase.
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2 meanwhile (adv.) B2 Upper Intermediateat the same time that something else is happening.
during the intervening time or at the same time; functions as a sentence adverb to connect two simultaneous or sequential situations.
ExampleMeantime, the rest of the team was busy preparing the presentation.
ExampleThe primary investigators focused on the chemical analysis; meantime, the field agents continued to gather witness testimonies across the city.
UsageUsually placed at the beginning of a sentence to link it to the previous context.
From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime.