meantime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “meantime” mean?
The intervening period of time between two events or points.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The intervening period of time between two events or points.
Used to indicate what happens or should happen while waiting for something else to occur.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or use. Both dialects use it identically.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Slightly more common in written than spoken English.
Frequency
Equally common in both British and American English.
Grammar
How to Use “meantime” in a Sentence
Prepositional Phrase: in the meantime + clausePrepositional Phrase: for the meantime + clauseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meantime” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- Meanwhile is used where an adverbial function is needed.
American English
- Use 'meanwhile' for the adverbial form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe actions taken while awaiting a decision or result (e.g., 'In the meantime, we will continue the market analysis.').
Academic
Used to structure arguments or describe interim findings (e.g., 'In the meantime, preliminary data suggests...').
Everyday
Common in instructions or plans while waiting (e.g., 'Dinner will be ready in 20 minutes; in the meantime, could you set the table?').
Technical
Used in project management or processes to describe parallel or holding actions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “meantime”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “meantime”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meantime”
- Using 'meantime' without 'the' (e.g., 'In meantime...' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'meanwhile', which is an adverb.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Meantime' is primarily a noun used in the phrases 'in the meantime' or 'for the meantime'. 'Meanwhile' is an adverb used to start a sentence or clause (e.g., 'Meanwhile, back at the office...'). They are often interchangeable in meaning but not in grammatical structure.
Yes, it is very common to start a sentence with 'In the meantime,' to introduce an action that occurs during a waiting period. It functions as a sentence adverb or transitional phrase.
Yes, 'for the meantime' is correct and means 'for the present time' or 'temporarily'. It is slightly less common than 'in the meantime' but perfectly standard.
It is neutral to slightly formal. It is appropriate in both spoken and written English, from everyday conversation to business and academic writing.
The intervening period of time between two events or points.
Meantime: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmiːntaɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈminˌtaɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the meantime, ... (a very common transitional phrase)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word being split: MEAN (signifies importance) + TIME. It's the important, significant period *between* two other events.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A CONTAINER/JOURNEY (The 'meantime' is a segment of the journey where you are waiting to arrive at the next point).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct usage?