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• interim
  interim

  noun

  an intervening time; interval; meantime.
• Interim
  Interim

  noun

  any of three provisional arrangements made during the Reformation by the German emperor and Diet to regulate religious differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants

interim

American  

[in-ter-uhm] / ˈɪn tər əm /

noun

interims plural

1. an intervening time; interval; meantime.

   School doesn't start till September, but he's taking a Spanish class in the interim.

2. a temporary or provisional arrangement; stopgap; makeshift.

   As an interim, her summer job was pretty good.

3. Church History. Interim, any of three provisional arrangements for the settlement of religious differences between German Protestants and Roman Catholics during the Reformation.

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adjective

1. for, during, belonging to, or connected with an intervening period of time; temporary; provisional.

   This is just an interim arrangement till office renovations are finished.

   She is the organization’s interim director while the board reviews applications for the role.

adverb

1. meanwhile.

interim ¹ British  

/ ˈɪntərɪm /

adjective

1. (prenominal) temporary, provisional, or intervening

   interim measures to deal with the emergency

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noun

1. the intervening time; the meantime (esp in the phrase in the interim )

adverb

1. rare meantime

Interim ² British  

/ ˈɪntərɪm /

noun

1. any of three provisional arrangements made during the Reformation by the German emperor and Diet to regulate religious differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants

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interim Idioms  

1. see in the interim.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• interims
  plural

Etymology

Origin of interim

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin: “in the meantime,” from inter “between” + -im, adverb suffix

Explanation

An interim is a period of time between one event and another. If a teacher leaves mid-year, there might be an interim teacher, one who takes over the class until a permanent replacement is hired. Interim is a Latin adverb meaning "in the meantime." The first part, inter means "between." Interim is the time between, and you can use it as a fancy way of referring to a time you squeeze something in. Maybe you get ice cream during the interim between school and piano lessons. This word is often used in official contexts — for example, after the CEO of a company steps down, an interim CEO might serve while a formal job search is conducted.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

interim Interim interims

“Markets already move on Truth Social posts,” said Kevin McGurn, Trump Media’s interim chief executive.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

Darline Graham Nordone is to be sworn in at 2:30 p.m. after the state’s Republican Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to serve as an interim replacement following the longtime lawmaker’s death.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

While England would like McCullum's replacement in position for the three-Test series against Pakistan, Gould accepts an interim solution may happen.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Assistant General Managers Zach Knowlton and Nate Nielsen will split interim GM duties, the team announced.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026

During intermission, Francie did not join the other kids in the interim pastime of spitting down on the plutocrats in the thirty-cent orchestra seats.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Interim President Delcy Rodriguez has defended the government reaction, saying thousands of public officials and rescue teams were dispatched.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

Interim president Delcy Rodriguez visited the region on Thursday and declared it a disaster area.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026

Interim chairman Brian Wilson said the appointment was "the start of a busy summer" where the club "will ensure we are in the best possible position to compete".

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

Interim Orange County Fire Authority Chief TJ McGovern indicated in a Tuesday afternoon community meeting that evacuation zones might soon shrink further.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026

The May 31 meeting broke up with the Interim Committee and its scientific panel at cross-purposes.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Including caretakers and interims, several of whom were chopped and changed, 39 people took charge of at least one Premier League game this season.

From BBC ● May 28, 2023

The move starts the team’s never-ending coaching carousel — now up to 10 coaches, including interims, in Snyder’s 24 seasons.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 2, 2022

And no more Trojan interims like Clay Helton.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2021

Since Piniella’s departure for the Rays after the 2002, the Mariners went through six managers and two interims – none receiving a contract extension.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2021

In the interims it resigns itself contentedly to its normal state of lethargy.

From By Berwen Banks by Raine, Allen

Related Words

• provisional