in the meanwhile

1 :  at or during the same time :  while something else is being done or was being done You can set the table. In the meanwhile, I'll start making dinner. She spent four years studying for her law degree. In the meanwhile, she continued to work at the bank.

2 :  during the time before something happens or before a specified period ends The new computers won't arrive until next week, but we can keep using the old ones in the meanwhile.