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Amidst vs Meanwhile - What's the difference?

amidst | meanwhile |

As a preposition amidst

is in the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among.

As a noun meanwhile is

the time between two events.

As an adverb meanwhile is

during the time (that something is happening).

amidst

English

Alternative forms

* amidest (obsolete) * amiddst (qualifier) * amiddest (obsolete) * amydst (obsolete) * amyddst (qualifier) * amyddest (qualifier)

Preposition

(English prepositions)
  • In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among.
  • * 1748 . David Hume. Enquiries Concerning the Human Understanding and Concerning the Principles of Morals. London: Oxford University Press, 1973. § 4.
    • Be a philosopher ; but amidst all your philosophy, be still a man.
  • * 1912 , (Edgar Rice Burroughs), (Tarzan of the Apes), Chapter 5
    • Not so, however, with Tarzan, the man-child. His life amidst the dangers of the jungle had taught him to meet emergencies with self-confidence, and his higher intelligence resulted in a quickness of mental action far beyond the powers of the apes.

    Synonyms

    * amid * among * amongst

    Usage notes

    As with other words with excrescent suffix , amidst is generally considered synonymous with simpler amid, and amid is preferred by style guides on both sides of the Atlantic. TimesOnline], [http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide/w The Guardian] and [http://www.hansard.ca/styleguide.pdf Hansard (Canadian parliament) Further, amidst /amid'' are similar in meaning to – but distinct from – ''amongst''/''among''. ''Amid]](st)'' denotes that something is "in the midst of", "surrounded by" other things, and is used when the idea of separate things is not prominent. ''[[among, Among(st)'' denotes that something is mingling with other separable things ("blessed art thou among women").

    References

    Anagrams

    *

    meanwhile

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The time between two events.

    • Adverb

    (-)
  • During the time (that something is happening).
  • At the same time, but elsewhere.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=19 citation , passage=Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him.}}

    Synonyms

    * (during the time) meanwhilst * (at the same time but elsewhere) in the meantime, meantime, meanwhilst, the while

    Quotations

    * 1955 March 1, Winston Churchill, From his last major speech in the House of Commons : *: The day may dawn when fair play, love for one's fellow men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile , never flinch, never weary, never despair.