meanwhile

English Online Dictionary. What means meanwhile‎? What does meanwhile mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English menewhile, equivalent to mean (“intermediate”) +‎ while. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the mean while, noun being conventionally written as one word after the adjective.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmiːnwaɪl/
• (without the wine–whine merger) IPA^(key): /ˈmiːnhwaɪl/

Noun

meanwhile (plural meanwhiles)

1. The time between two events.
   • Quoted in 2002, Stephen C. Ausband, Byrd's Line: A Natural History (page 37)

     In the meanwhile, the surveyors carried the line three miles, which was no contemptible day's work, considering how cruelly they were entangled with briers and gallbushes.

Synonyms

• between-time, meantime; see also Thesaurus:interim

Derived terms

Adverb

meanwhile (not comparable)

1. During the time that something is happening, often specifically in a different place.

   Synonyms: in the meantime, meantime, meanwhilst, the while
2. During an intervening time; from now until a future time.

   Synonyms: meantime, until then, for now
3. In contrast to aspects previously mentioned.

   Synonyms: at the same time, on the other hand

Translations

Anagrams

• main wheel, mainwheel