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Meantime vs Meanwhile - What's the difference?

meantime | meanwhile | Synonyms |

Meanwhile is a synonym of meantime.

Meanwhile is a related term of meantime.



As nouns the difference between meantime and meanwhile

is that meantime is the time spent waiting for another event; time in between while meanwhile is the time between two events.

As adverbs the difference between meantime and meanwhile

is that meantime is during the interval; meanwhile while meanwhile is during the time (that something is happening).

meantime

English

Alternative forms

* mean time

Noun

(-)
  • The time spent waiting for another event; time in between.
    • I'll get started tomorrow but, in the meantime , let's see if we can get a few more opinions.

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * for the mean time, for the meantime * in mean time, in meantime * in the mean time, in the meantime * this mean time, this meantime

    Related terms

    * meanwhile

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • during the interval; meanwhile
  • * 1919 , :
    • Meantime Pope Urban II convoked two councils, one after another.
  • * 1934 , edition, ISBN 0553278193, page 97:
    • Lunch will be in twenty minutes. Meantime : I have

    Usage notes

    Usually appears sentence-initially.

    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.