Meantime: Definition, Usage, and Common Examples

Meaning 1：the intervening time (meantime)

meantime 🔊

/ˈmiːn.taɪm/

The time between two events or while waiting for something to happen.

Meantime scene: person washing dishes while waiting for cake to bake

the intervening time 🔊

➕

/ði ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ taɪm/

The period of time between two events or during which something else is awaited.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'mean' (middle) + 'time', literally 'middle time'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'mean' as 'average' – the average time between two events.

📖 Example

The new sofa won't arrive until next week, in the meantime, let's clear out some space in the living room. 🔊 The new sofa won't arrive until next week, in the meantime, let's clear out some space in the living room.

🔗 Collocations

in the meantime – during the time between two events

for the meantime – for the present time until something else happens

the meantime – the period of time between two events

🔄 Synonyms

meanwhile (adv.) – during the same time period, often used interchangeably with 'in the meantime'

interim (n.) – the time between two events, especially in formal contexts

interval (n.) – a period of time between two events or dates

📖 Cultural Story

From 14th century English, 'meantime' means 'middle time'. Often used in 'in the meantime' for the waiting period.