in the meantime

phraseB2Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

In the meantime means while waiting for something else to happen. The main event is coming and here is what fills the gap.

It always assumes a stated or obvious future event, which is why it cannot open a piece of writing. It usually sits at the start of a sentence with a comma. Meanwhile does the same job in one word and is more flexible. The phrase is one of the standard formulas of official letters, since we will investigate and in the meantime please do nothing is a familiar shape.

Definitions of in the meantime

1phrasein the meantimeDuring the period until something else happens.B2
“The parts arrive Thursday; in the meantime we can do nothing.”

Practised in Time & Calendar, A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 1 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

← Vocabulary

in the meantime

phraseB2Not compared — the two pools are counted one word at a time, so a phrase has no score

In the meantime means while waiting for something else to happen. The main event is coming and here is what fills the gap.

Definitions of in the meantime

1phrasein the meantimeDuring the period until something else happens.B2
“The parts arrive Thursday; in the meantime we can do nothing.”

Practised in Time & Calendar, A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 1 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word