Have you ever paused while writing an email or telling a story because you weren’t sure whether to use meanwhile or meantime? Both words refer to events happening during the same period, so they can seem interchangeable. However, they follow different grammatical patterns. Understanding the difference between meanwhile vs meantime will help you choose the right expression in everyday conversations, professional emails, academic writing, and other situations.
Quick Answer
Meanwhile and meantime are both correct English words. They refer to the period between events or to the time when something else is happening, but they differ in their usual grammatical patterns.
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Common usage |
| Meanwhile | During the same period or while something else happens | Meanwhile, I’ll prepare dinner. |
| In the meantime | During the waiting period before something happens | In the meantime, I’ll prepare dinner. |
| Meantime | The period between two events | We’ll use the temporary office in the meantime. |
Use meanwhile when connecting two events or describing what is happening at the same time. Use in the meantime when referring to the waiting period before an expected event.
Both expressions are accepted in American and British English. The phrase in the meantime is especially common when you want to describe what someone can do while waiting.
If you want to distinguish ownership from location, understand the difference between Their and There with simple grammar rules and examples.
Meaning and Definition
Meaning of Meanwhile
Meanwhile means during the same period that something else happens or during the time between two events.
You can use it to connect two activities, describe events occurring in different places, or explain what happens while someone waits for something.
For example, imagine that you are preparing dinner while your brother sets the table. You could say, “Meanwhile, my brother is setting the table.”
The word helps readers understand that two activities are happening during the same general period.
Definition of Meanwhile
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, meanwhile is an adverb that refers to the time before an expected event or while another event is happening.
In practical terms, meanwhile is an adverb that connects actions, events, or situations occurring during overlapping periods.
Examples:
- The mechanic is repairing my car. Meanwhile, I’m taking the bus to work.
- Sarah is studying for her exam. Meanwhile, her friends are preparing for the party.
- The company expects the shipment tomorrow. Meanwhile, customers can track their orders online.
Meaning of Meantime
Meantime refers to the period between two events or the time you spend waiting for something to happen.
It most commonly appears in the expression in the meantime. This phrase tells readers what happens or what someone can do before an expected event takes place.
For example, if your new laptop will arrive next week, you might say, “In the meantime, I’ll use my old computer.”
The sentence explains what you will do during the waiting period.
Definition of Meantime
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries identifies meantime as a noun meaning the period between two times or events, especially in the expression in the meantime. It also recognizes an informal adverbial use of meantime.
Clear up confusion between these commonly mixed-up words by learning the difference between To and Too with straightforward grammar explanations.
In everyday English, meantime usually names the interval between the present situation and a later event.
Examples:
- The results will be announced on Friday. In the meantime, please wait for an email.
- Our new office is still under construction. We’ll work remotely in the meantime.
- The replacement part should arrive soon. In the meantime, the machine will remain switched off.
Main Difference
The main difference between meanwhile and meantime lies in how speakers typically use them in sentences.
Meanwhile usually functions as an adverb that connects related or simultaneous events. Meantime usually functions as a noun within the phrase in the meantime, which emphasizes the interval before something happens.
Consider these examples:
- Meanwhile: The chef is preparing the main course. Meanwhile, the waiters are serving drinks.
- In the meantime: The main course will take 20 minutes. In the meantime, you can enjoy your drinks.
The first example highlights two activities happening during the same period. The second focuses on what can happen while someone waits.
| Feature | Meanwhile | Meantime |
| Main grammatical role | Adverb | Noun, usually |
| Most common pattern | Meanwhile, … | In the meantime, … |
| Main emphasis | Simultaneous or related events | The interval between events |
| Can appear at the beginning of a sentence? | Yes | Yes, usually as “In the meantime” |
| Can appear at the end of a sentence? | Yes, in suitable contexts | Yes, especially in “in the meantime” |
| Formal writing | Appropriate | Appropriate |
| American and British English | Accepted | Accepted |
The distinction is a matter of typical usage, not an absolute difference in meaning. Both can refer to the time between events, and dictionaries recognize overlapping meanings.
Which One Is Correct?
Both meanwhile and meantime are correct English words. Neither is a misspelling, and you don’t need to avoid either one.
The important distinction is how you use each word.
Use meanwhile when you want to connect two events or show what is happening during another activity.
- The students are taking their exams. Meanwhile, the teachers are preparing the next lesson.
- I’ll finish the report. Meanwhile, you can review the budget.
Use in the meantime when you want to refer to a waiting period or explain what will happen before a particular event.
- The doctor will call you tomorrow. In the meantime, get some rest.
- Our permanent office opens next month. In the meantime, we’ll work from home.
You may also encounter meantime without in, as in “Meantime, the team continued its work.” This is an accepted but less usual, informal adverbial construction. In standard professional writing, meanwhile or in the meantime will often sound more natural.
Avoid awkward phrasing in emails and applications with correct preposition usage after Available and practical guidance.
Grammar and Usage
Understanding the grammatical role of each word makes the choice much easier.
Meanwhile as an Adverb
An adverb can modify a verb, describe when something happens, or connect information about events.
Meanwhile commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence:
- Meanwhile, the staff are preparing the conference room.
- Meanwhile, we are waiting for the final decision.
It can also appear in the middle or at the end of a sentence when the sentence structure allows it.
- The situation, meanwhile, continued to improve.
- I finished my assignment, and my sister studied for her test meanwhile.
The last example is grammatical, although many writers would find at the same time or in the meantime more natural in some contexts.
Meantime as a Noun
The noun meantime refers to a period of time. It commonly appears with the preposition in.
The standard pattern is:
In the meantime + subject + verb
Examples:
- In the meantime, we will continue our research.
- In the meantime, customers can contact our support team.
- In the meantime, please keep your receipt.
The phrase can also appear at the end of a sentence:
- We can use the spare room in the meantime.
- I’ll continue practicing in the meantime.
Meantime as an Adverb
Although less common, meantime can function as an adverb without in the. This use is recognized by Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries and is generally described as informal.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries
For example:
– Meantime, the engineers continued testing the equipment.
This construction is understandable, but meanwhile is generally the more natural choice when you want an adverb to connect two events.
Punctuation with Meanwhile and In the Meantime
When either expression introduces a complete sentence, a comma commonly follows it.
- Meanwhile, the rain began to fall.
- In the meantime, we prepared another plan.
When meanwhile appears within a sentence as a parenthetical connector, commas can separate it from the surrounding words.
– The proposal, meanwhile, remains under review.
When two independent clauses are joined incorrectly with only a comma, you create a comma splice.
Incorrect: The train is delayed, meanwhile, we are waiting at the station.
Correct: The train is delayed. Meanwhile, we are waiting at the station.
You can also write: “The train is delayed, and we are waiting at the station in the meantime.”
How to Use Meanwhile and Meantime
Choose the expression based on what you want to emphasize.
Use Meanwhile to Connect Two Events
Use meanwhile when one event occurs alongside another or when you shift attention to a different activity or situation.
Examples:
- The manager is interviewing candidates. Meanwhile, the HR team is checking references.
- I prepared the presentation. Meanwhile, my colleague gathered the statistics.
- The southern region received heavy rain. Meanwhile, the northern region remained dry.
This usage is especially helpful in storytelling, news writing, reports, and explanations that describe events unfolding at the same time.
Use In the Meantime When Someone Is Waiting
Use in the meantime to explain what happens before an expected event or while a person waits for a result, decision, delivery, or appointment.
Examples:
- Your order should arrive tomorrow. In the meantime, you can check its tracking status.
- We expect the manager’s decision next week. In the meantime, the team will continue working.
- The library will reopen in June. In the meantime, students can access digital resources.
This expression is particularly useful when you want to offer an interim arrangement or describe a temporary situation.
Use Either Expression When Both Meanings Fit
Sometimes both choices are natural because the sentence refers to the same period.
For example:
- The bus arrives in 15 minutes. Meanwhile, I’ll get a coffee.
- The bus arrives in 15 minutes. In the meantime, I’ll get a coffee.
Both sentences are correct. The first uses meanwhile to connect the waiting period with another activity. The second explicitly refers to the time before the bus arrives.
The difference is subtle, so don’t force a distinction when the context does not require one.
Examples
The following examples show how to use meanwhile and meantime naturally in everyday, academic, and professional English.
Examples of Meanwhile
- Everyday conversation: I’m going to the grocery store. Meanwhile, could you start preparing dinner?
- Workplace communication: The marketing team is developing the campaign. Meanwhile, the sales team is contacting potential clients.
- Academic writing: The researchers collected additional data. Meanwhile, the original participants continued their regular activities.
- Education: The teacher is helping one student. Meanwhile, the others are completing their assignments.
- News reporting: Heavy rain affected the coastal towns. Meanwhile, inland communities experienced unusually warm weather.
- Storytelling: Emma searched the entire house for her keys. Meanwhile, her brother found them on the kitchen counter.
- Business: The company is reviewing the proposal. Meanwhile, the finance department is preparing its quarterly report.
- Travel: Our flight leaves at noon. Meanwhile, we can explore the airport shops.
- Technology: The software update is downloading. Meanwhile, you can save your other files.
- Daily routine: My mother is making breakfast. Meanwhile, I’m packing my schoolbag.
Examples of Meantime
In most everyday sentences, meantime appears in the phrase in the meantime.
- Everyday conversation: The movie starts in half an hour. In the meantime, let’s grab something to eat.
- Workplace communication: The new employee starts Monday. In the meantime, we’ll distribute the workload among the current staff.
- Academic writing: The results will be available next month. In the meantime, students can review the preliminary findings.
- Education: The school library is closed for repairs. In the meantime, students can borrow books from the public library.
- Customer service: Your replacement order is being processed. In the meantime, you can contact our support team if you need assistance.
- Travel: Our hotel room isn’t ready yet. We’ll leave our bags at reception in the meantime.
- Business: The contract is awaiting approval. In the meantime, both teams can prepare the necessary documents.
- Technology: The website is undergoing maintenance. In the meantime, customers can use our mobile application.
- Health care: Your appointment is scheduled for Friday. In the meantime, follow the instructions provided by your doctor.
- Daily life: My new glasses will arrive next week. I’ll use my spare pair in the meantime.
Common Mistakes
Although both words are correct, writers sometimes use them in awkward sentence patterns or misunderstand their meanings.
Mistake 1: Using Meantime Without the Usual Phrase
Less natural: Meantime, I’ll finish the presentation.
More natural: Meanwhile, I’ll finish the presentation.
Also correct: In the meantime, I’ll finish the presentation.
Why it happens: Learners often assume that meantime works exactly like meanwhile in every sentence. Although bare meantime can function as an adverb, that use is less common and is generally informal.
Mistake 2: Writing In Meanwhile
Incorrect: In meanwhile, we will wait for the results.
Correct: Meanwhile, we will wait for the results.
Also correct: In the meantime, we will wait for the results.
Why it happens: Both meanwhile and in the meantime express related ideas, so learners sometimes combine their grammatical patterns. However, standard English uses meanwhile by itself or the complete phrase in the meantime.
Mistake 3: Treating the Words as Completely Interchangeable
Less suitable: The chef is preparing the sauce. In the meantime, the assistant is chopping vegetables.
More natural: The chef is preparing the sauce. Meanwhile, the assistant is chopping vegetables.
Why it happens: Both expressions can refer to overlapping periods, but meanwhile is especially natural when shifting attention between two simultaneous activities.
The original sentence is not necessarily wrong. The revised version simply makes the relationship between the two activities clearer.
Mistake 4: Confusing In the Meantime With For the Time Being
Awkward: We will use this temporary office for the meantime.
More natural: We will use this temporary office in the meantime.
Another natural option: We will use this temporary office for the time being.
Why it happens: In the meantime refers to the interval before something else happens. For the time being means temporarily, without necessarily identifying a particular future event.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the Comma After an Introductory Expression
Incorrectly punctuated in standard formal writing: Meanwhile the employees continued working.
Preferred: Meanwhile, the employees continued working.
Preferred: In the meantime, the employees continued working.
Why it happens: Writers sometimes overlook punctuation when an introductory adverb or phrase begins a sentence. A comma after these introductory expressions improves readability and is the usual choice in formal prose.
Linguistic Insight
The relationship between meanwhile and meantime becomes clearer when you consider their word formation and grammatical roles.
Word Origins
Both words developed from older English expressions combining mean, in the sense of middle or intermediate, with a word referring to time.
Meanwhile comes from Middle English mean and while. Meantime developed from the combination of mean and time. Both have a long history in English, and their meanings overlap because they describe an interval or a period associated with another event.
Why the Words Are Confused
The confusion comes from their shared meaning. Both expressions can describe what happens before an expected event or during the period when something else is happening.
However, their usual grammatical patterns differ:
- Meanwhile behaves primarily as an adverb, connecting events or shifting attention between situations.
- Meantime behaves primarily as a noun, especially in the fixed expression in the meantime.
A fixed expression is a group of words commonly used together in an established pattern. Recognizing in the meantime as a familiar phrase helps learners avoid constructions such as in meanwhile.
How Context Changes the Meaning
Consider these two sentences:
- The director is meeting the investors. Meanwhile, the staff are preparing the office.
- The director will return in an hour. In the meantime, the staff can prepare the office.
In the first sentence, meanwhile highlights two activities happening during the same general period. In the second, in the meantime emphasizes the interval before the director returns.
This distinction is useful, but it is not an absolute grammatical rule. The expressions overlap, and context determines which sounds more natural.
Usage Tips
Use these practical tips to remember the difference between meanwhile and meantime.
- Remember the standard phrase: If you want to use meantime, start with in the meantime. This is the safest pattern for everyday and professional writing.
- Think about simultaneous actions: If you are describing two activities happening around the same time, meanwhile is often the clearest choice.
- Think about waiting: If you are explaining what someone can do before an appointment, delivery, decision, or event, in the meantime is a natural option.
- Check the sentence structure: Write Meanwhile, … or In the meantime, …. Avoid In meanwhile.
- Read your sentence aloud: Choose the expression that communicates the intended relationship between the events most clearly.
- Don’t overthink interchangeable cases: If both expressions fit the context, choose the one that sounds more natural in your sentence.
Expert Suggestion
As a grammar teacher, I recommend learning meanwhile and in the meantime as two useful sentence patterns rather than memorizing a strict rule that separates their meanings.
For students and ESL learners, practice describing two activities that happen at the same time. For example, “I’m preparing dinner. Meanwhile, my sister is setting the table.”
Next, practice describing a waiting period: “The food will be ready soon. In the meantime, we can set the table.”
For professional writers and content creators, focus on clarity. Use meanwhile to connect events when that relationship matters, and use in the meantime to emphasize a temporary interval. Both expressions work in formal writing, so the best choice depends on the context rather than a difference in correctness.
Summary
Meanwhile and meantime are both correct English words with overlapping meanings.
- Meanwhile is primarily an adverb used to connect events, describe simultaneous activities, or explain what happens during an interval.
- Meantime is primarily a noun used in the phrase in the meantime, which refers to the period before an expected event or between two events.
- Meanwhile is a natural choice when shifting attention between activities or situations.
- In the meantime is a natural choice when explaining what happens while someone waits.
- Both expressions are accepted in American and British English.
- Avoid in meanwhile, which is not the standard expression.
When you’re unsure, use meanwhile to connect events and in the meantime to describe a waiting period. These patterns will help you write clear, natural English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is meanwhile one word or two?
Meanwhile is one word. It is spelled M-E-A-N-W-H-I-L-E and usually functions as an adverb. For example, “Meanwhile, the team continued working.” Do not write it as two words, such as “mean while,” when you intend to use the standard adverb.
Is meantime one word or two?
Meantime is one word. It commonly appears in the phrase in the meantime. For example, “The package will arrive tomorrow. In the meantime, you can use the spare one.” Writing mean time as two words generally does not express this established phrase correctly.
Can I use meanwhile and meantime interchangeably?
Sometimes. Both can refer to the period between events, but their usual grammatical patterns differ. Meanwhile is commonly used to connect activities or situations, while in the meantime emphasizes the interval before something happens. Consider the context before choosing one.
Is in the meantime grammatically correct?
Yes. In the meantime is a standard English expression that refers to the period before an expected event or between two events. For example, “The technician will arrive tomorrow. In the meantime, please leave the equipment switched off.”
Can I start a sentence with meanwhile?
Yes. Starting a sentence with meanwhile is grammatically correct. For example, “Meanwhile, the other team continued preparing for the presentation.” A comma commonly follows meanwhile when it introduces a sentence.
Can I start a sentence with meantime?
Yes, but the usual standard construction is “In the meantime, …” For example, “In the meantime, we will continue reviewing the applications.” Bare meantime can also begin a sentence as an adverb, but this use is less common and generally informal.
Is meantime formal or informal?
Meantime is a standard noun, especially in the phrase in the meantime, which is suitable for both formal and informal writing. Using meantime alone as an adverb is less common and is described as informal in Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries.
What is the difference between meanwhile and in the meantime?
Meanwhile is an adverb that connects events or describes what happens during another activity. In the meantime is a phrase that usually emphasizes the waiting period before an expected event. For example, “Meanwhile, the staff are working” connects activities, while “In the meantime, you can wait here” emphasizes the interval.
Is in the meantime better than meanwhile?
Neither expression is universally better. Use in the meantime when you want to emphasize a waiting period or a temporary arrangement. Use meanwhile when you want to connect events, shift attention, or show that activities occur during the same general period.
What is another word for meanwhile?
Common alternatives include at the same time, in the meantime, during this period, and in the interim. The best alternative depends on your sentence. For example, at the same time emphasizes simultaneous events, while in the interim often suits formal or professional writing.
Can I say for the meantime?
Yes, for the meantime occurs in English, particularly in British usage, but it is less common than in the meantime. If you mean temporarily without specifying a particular future event, for the time being is often the more natural alternative.
Is meantime a noun or an adverb?
Meantime is primarily a noun, especially in the phrase in the meantime. It can also function as an adverb in less common constructions, such as “Meantime, the negotiations continued.” In standard writing, meanwhile is usually the more natural adverb.
What is the difference between meanwhile and at the same time?
Meanwhile often connects separate events or shifts attention between situations. At the same time directly emphasizes that two things happen simultaneously, and it can also introduce a contrasting point. For example, “The team worked quickly. At the same time, they maintained accuracy.”
Which expression should I use in a professional email?
Use either expression according to your intended meaning. For a waiting period, write, “In the meantime, please review the attached documents.” To connect ongoing activities, write, “Meanwhile, our team will prepare the final report.” Both are appropriate in professional communication.
Meta description:
Learn Meanwhile vs Meantime: meanings, grammar rules, examples to help you choose the correct expression every time.
