meanwhile

American  

[meen-hwahyl, -wahyl] / ˈminˌʰwaɪl, -ˌwaɪl /

noun

1. meantime.

---

adverb

1. in the intervening time; during the interval.

2. at the same time.

   Meanwhile, the others were back home enjoying themselves.

meanwhile British  

/ ˈmiːnˌwaɪl /

adverb

1. during the intervening time or period

2. at the same time, esp in another place

---

noun

1. another word for meantime

Usage

What does meanwhile mean? Meanwhile means in or during the time between the current time and the time when something else happens, as in Our guests will arrive in about an hour—meanwhile, let’s get the food ready. It can also mean at the same time, as in When I got to my apartment, I realized I had forgotten my key—meanwhile, everyone was already hiding inside for my surprise party. Both of these senses of meanwhile are adverbs. As an adverb, meanwhile is often used at the beginning of a sentence to connect the statement that follows with something that was just mentioned. The word meantime can also be used as an adverb in the same ways that meanwhile is, but meanwhile is much more commonly as an adverb. Meanwhile can also be used as a noun meaning the period of time between two events, as in The power will come back on soon, so let’s just enjoy the quiet in the meanwhile. The word meantime is much more commonly used in this way. Example: Mix the batter; meanwhile, preheat the oven.

Etymology

Origin of meanwhile

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; mean ³ + while

---

Compare meaning

How does meanwhile compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• meantime vs. meanwhile

---

Explanation

Use the adverb meanwhile to mean "at the same time." For example, you might have a great evening at the bowling alley, but meanwhile, your parents are home wondering why you never showed up for dinner. The word meanwhile is handy when you’re telling a story because sometimes it’s funny to realize what two things are happening at the same time. You might be frantically searching for your cat, meanwhile, he's lounging under your bed. Meanwhile can also refer to the time before something happens, as in "I have an interview in an hour, but meanwhile I'm going to take a nap." The word meanwhile is rooted in mean, with its meaning of "middle" or "intermediate."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meanwhile

Morgan, meanwhile, has utterly inhabited the character, down to her own greater Manchester-Bolton accent.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2026

The Sun on Sunday meanwhile reports that Brand has been moved to a "cushy jail for his own safety".

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2026

The Treasury Department, meanwhile, is asking banks questions related to frameworks around AI and payments, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2026

Manuel Astigarraga, right-hand man to top Ueno executive Miguel Vazquez, meanwhile turned himself in to police.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2026

The Red Hood, meanwhile, leapt for the Mirror on the wall.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---