Meanwhile
Definition
Meanwhile is an adverb that refers to the time during which something else is happening. It can also mean "in the interim" or "at the same time."
Parts of Speech
- Adverb
- Noun
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈmiːnˌwaɪl/
- Respelling: MEEN-wyle
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈmiːnˌwaɪl/
- Respelling: MEEN-wyle
Etymology
The word "meanwhile" originates from the combination of "mean" (from Old English "mǣnan," meaning "intend" or "signify") and "while" (from Old English "hwīl," meaning "time"). The term has been in use since the 14th century to describe simultaneous or intervening actions or periods of time.
Derivatives
- Meanwhiles (noun, less common)
- In the meanwhile (phrase)
- Meanwhileish (colloquial, adjective)
- Meanwhileing (verb, rare)
- Meanwhiled (past participle, rare)
Synonyms
- Simultaneously
- At the same time
- In the interim
Antonyms
- Before
- Afterward
- Subsequently
Usage
The term "meanwhile" is often used to indicate actions or events occurring simultaneously or during an intervening period. For example, "She was cooking dinner. Meanwhile, he set the table." It can also introduce a contrasting or secondary action.
Related Terms
- Interim: The time between two events.
- Simultaneous: Occurring at the same time.
- Concurrent: Happening or done at the same time.
Detailed Definitions
Adverb
- At the same time: Refers to actions happening concurrently.
- Example: "She was writing the report; meanwhile, her colleague was editing the presentation."
- In the intervening period: Refers to a time between two events.
- Example: "The project was delayed. Meanwhile, the team worked on other tasks."
Noun
- An intervening period: Describes the time during which something else occurs.
- Example: "In the meanwhile, they prepared for the next phase."
meanwhile
She was writing the report; meanwhile, her colleague was editing the presentation.
The project was delayed. Meanwhile, the team worked on other tasks.
The construction of the new bridge will take several months; in the meanwhile, commuters must use an alternate route.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 与此同时 (meanwhile)
- IPA: /yʊ t͡ɕʰɪ tʂʰʊŋ˥˩/
- English Respell: yu chi chung
- 在此期间 (in this period)
- IPA: /tsai t͡ɕʰɨ t͡ɕʰiː t͡ɕʰjan/
- English Respell: zai chi chi jian
🇮🇳 Hindi
- इस बीच में (meanwhile)
- IPA: /is biːʧ meː/
- English Respell: is beech me
- तब तक (in the meantime)
- IPA: /təb tək/
- English Respell: tab tak
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Mientras tanto (meanwhile)
- IPA: /mjentɾas ˈtanto/
- English Respell: myen-tras tan-to
- En este ínterin (in this interim)
- IPA: /en este ˈinteɾin/
- English Respell: en es-te in-te-rin
🇫🇷 French
- Pendant ce temps (meanwhile)
- IPA: /pɑ̃dɑ̃ sə tɑ̃/
- English Respell: pahn-dahn suh tahn
- Entretemps (in the meantime)
- IPA: /ɑ̃tʁətɑ̃/
- English Respell: ahn-truh-tahn
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- في هذه الأثناء (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /fiː haːðihi alʔaθnaː/
- English Respell: fee haa-thee-hee al-ath-naa
- في الوقت نفسه (meanwhile, at the same time)
- IPA: /fiː alwaqt nafsih/
- English Respell: fee al-waqt naf-sih
🇧🇩 Bengali
- এই সময়ে (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /ei ʃɔmoe/
- English Respell: ei shomoe
- তদন্তে (meanwhile, in the meantime)
- IPA: /tɔdɔnte/
- English Respell: to-don-te
🇷🇺 Russian
- Между тем (meanwhile, in the meantime)
- IPA: /mʲeʐdu tʲem/
- English Respell: mez-du tem
- Тем временем (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /tʲem vrʲɪˈmenʲem/
- English Respell: tyem vree-men-yem
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Enquanto isso (meanwhile, duringthis time)
- IPA: /ẽˈkwɐ̃tu ˈisu/
- English Respell: en-kwan-tu ee-su
- Entretanto (meanwhile, in the meantime)
- IPA: /ẽtɾiˈtɐ̃tu/
- English Respell: en-tre-tan-tu
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Sementara itu (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /sementara itu/
- English Respell: se-men-ta-ra i-tu
- Dalam waktu itu (meanwhile, in the meantime)
- IPA: /dalam waktu itu/
- English Respell: da-lam wa-k-tu i-tu
🇩🇪 German
- Inzwischen (meanwhile, in the meantime)
- IPA: /ˈɪntsˌviːʃən/
- English Respell: intz-vee-shen
- Währenddessen (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /ˈvɛːʁəntdɛsən/
- English Respell: vea-rent-des-sen
🇯🇵 Japanese
- その間に (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /sono aida ni/
- English Respell: so-no ai-da ni
- 一方 (meanwhile, on the other hand)
- IPA: /ippou/
- English Respell: ip-pou
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Trong khi đó (meanwhile, during this time)
- IPA: /ʈʂwə˧ˀ˨ʔkwi˧˥ ɗo˧˩/
- English Respell: trong khi do
- Trong lúc đó (meanwhile, in the meantime)
- IPA: /ʈʂwə˧ˀ˨ʔluk̚˦ˀ˥ ɗo˧˩/
- English Respell: trong luk do
🇰🇷 Korean
- 그 동안에 (meanwhile)
- IPA: /kɯː doŋan.e/
- English Respell: geu dong-an-e
- 한편 (on the other hand)
- IPA: /han.pjʌn/
- English Respell: han-pyeon
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Bu arada (meanwhile)
- IPA: /bu aɾada/
- English Respell: boo arada
- Öte yandan (on the other hand)
- IPA: /œte jandan/
- English Respell: o-te yan-dan
🇵🇰 Urdu
- اس دوران میں (meanwhile)
- IPA: /ɪs dʊraːn mɛ̃/
- English Respell: is duran mein
- بیچ میں (in the meantime)
- IPA: /biːtʃ mɛ̃/
- English Respell: beech mein
