adv · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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mēnʹtīm
/ˈmiːntaɪm/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:M IY1 N T AY2 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
During the interval; meanwhile.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Repairs will be done tomorrow so meantime restrain from using the bath.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The time spent waiting for another event; time in between.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
We'll come back asap; just wait here for the meantime.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
during the intervening time
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
meanwhile I will not think about the problem
meantime he was attentive to his other interests
in the meantime the police were notified
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: meanwhile, in the meantime
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
the time between one event, process, or period and another
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
meanwhile the socialists are running the government
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: interim, meanwhile, lag
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: time interval, interval
Narrower terms: interregnum
History
Etymology
From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Chinese Mandarin:
其間 /其间
(qíjiān)
— meanwhile
Chinese Mandarin:
與此同時 /与此同时
(yǔcǐtóngshí)
— meanwhile
Finnish:
sillä välin
— meanwhile
German:
unterdessen
— meanwhile
Japanese:
その間
(sono aida)
— meanwhile
Korean:
그동안
(geudong'an)
— meanwhile
Russian:
тем вре́менем
(tem vrémenem)
— meanwhile
Russian:
ме́жду те́м
(méždu tém)
— meanwhile
Spanish:
en tanto (locution)
— meanwhile
Spanish:
entre tanto (locution)
— meanwhile
Spanish:
entretanto
— meanwhile
Spanish:
mientras tanto
— meanwhile
Carpathian Rusyn:
межичас
(mežyčas)
— time in between
Dutch:
ondertussen
— time in between
Esperanto:
intertempo
— time in between
French:
pendant ce temps
— time in between
French:
en attendant
— time in between
Ancient Greek:
ἐν τούτοις
(en toútois)
— time in between
Icelandic:
í millitíðinni
— time in between
Icelandic:
á meðan
— time in between
Italian:
frattempo
— time in between
Italian:
contempo
— time in between
Italian:
attesa
— time in between
Latin:
interea
— time in between
Latin:
interim
— time in between
Pannonian Rusyn:
медзичас
(medzičas)
— time in between
