meantime

noun mean·time \ ˈmēn-ˌtīm \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

: the time before something happens or before a specified period ends

The new computers won't arrive until next week, but we can continue to use the old ones in the meantime.

See meantime defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of meantime from the Web

Staffing challenges In the meantime, other facilities are preparing their bids for support from the national brain project.

— david cyranoski, Scientific American, "Beijing Launches Pioneering Brain-Science Center," 6 Apr. 2018
But in the meantime there will be significant collateral damage to innocent business bystanders, American consumers, and the overall U.S. economy.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Two Can Play at Trade War," 2 Apr. 2018
Get your tickets here, but in the meantime, practice these tips in your own space: 1.

— melissa graham, kansascity, "Five design tips from ‘Flipping Out’ star Jeff Lewis [partner] | The Kansas City Star," 14 Mar. 2018
The Windy City still holds strong to its identity as a basketball city, but in the meantime, it’s seen three Stanley Cups and two World Series titles.

— joan niesen, SI.com, "An Unlikely Reviver of Chicago's Hoops Title Dreams, Loyola Has Become the Darling of the City," 28 Mar. 2018
But in the meantime, there's a shortage on donor hearts.

— american heart association, chicagotribune.com, "In the transplant world, solving the dilemma of not enough hearts," 28 Mar. 2018
Prado may return during the early part of the season, but in the meantime Miami figures to get a good look at prospect Brian Anderson at the hot corner.

— andre c. fernandez, miamiherald, "Here are the players who will lead the Miami Marlins into a new era in 2018 | Miami Herald," 28 Mar. 2018
In the other half, physicians will wait six months before seeing the test results, and in the meantime will prescribe a medication based on their own medical judgment before having seen the test results.

— catherine ho, San Francisco Chronicle, "In a first, Veterans Affairs centers use genetic testing to treat depression," 17 Mar. 2018
China, the world’s largest car market, has considered the idea, and in the meantime has imposed some of the planet's most stringent environmental standards.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "Even More Evidence That Electric Cars Could Save the Planet," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'meantime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of meantime

14th century

meantime

adverb

: ²meanwhile

meantime he had been attentive to his other interests
—H. R. Warfel

See meantime defined for English-language learners

Examples of meantime in a Sentence

He can come back to work when he's feeling better. Meantime, he should be resting as much as possible.

Recent Examples of meantime from the Web

Meantime, Ogletree is continuing to prepare for the Sept. 10 opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

— gary klein, latimes.com, "Rams middle linebacker Alec Ogletree still looking for that new deal," 24 Aug. 2017
Meantime, Latin American diplomats fear that Maduro’s opponents are now staying at home, waiting for a U.S. invasion.

— patricia mazzei, miamiherald, "In Miami, Pence will try to escape long shadow of Trump’s military talk on Venezuela," 22 Aug. 2017
Gormley finished fourth, followed by Senior Investment, Twisted Tom, Lookin At Lee, Meantime, J Boys Echo and Multiplier.

— michael democker, NOLA.com, "Wiener Dog Racing at the Fair Grounds: photo gallery & video," 19 Aug. 2017
Meantime, Pence has scheduled other stops in Argentina, Chile and Panama, giving speeches and meeting with leaders.

— Washington Post, "Venezuela expected to dominate Pence’s Latin American trip," 13 Aug. 2017
Meantime, Stroud’s phone was positively blowing up.

— mike purkey, charlotteobserver, "‘Foggy dream’ carries unlikely contender into final round a shot back at Quail Hollow," 12 Aug. 2017
Meantime, Europe and Japan leveraged their then-lower wage scales to compete increasingly with American production and American workers.

— milton ezrati, National Review, "Globalization Can Be Good for American Workers," 7 Aug. 2017
Meantime, even as the digital business grows and other platforms proliferate, the print magazine remains central to The Atlantic's rise and core to its future.

— russell berman, The Atlantic, "Emerson Collective To Acquire Majority Ownership of The Atlantic, Forming Partnership With David Bradley," 28 July 2017
Meantime, while Rahr is stoking a cultural revolution, Knezovich said, the state's training center is failing to drill down on basics.

— dan simon, CNN, "'Guardians of democracy': Police recruits learn to hold fire, empathize," 19 July 2017

First Known Use of meantime

circa 1593

mean time

noun

: time that is based on the motion of the mean sun — called also mean solar time

Recent Examples of mean time from the Web

In the mean time, more dirt about Cambridge Analytica rose to the surface, thanks to an undercover video from the UK's Channel 4 that showed Cambridge Analytica's CEO Alexander Nix discussing the use of extortion and bribery on behalf of clients.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "Mark Zuckerberg Answers to Congress For Facebook's Troubles," 10 Apr. 2018
Whether Real turn their attentions to other targets now is unclear but, for the mean time, Chelsea fans will be delighted to see two of their best players stay in west London.

— SI.com, "Eden Hazard Claims He, Thibaut Courtois Will Sign New Chelsea Contracts," 12 Jan. 2018
But in the mean time, the 56-year-old coach has focus his recruiting efforts on bringing in players who fit the system.

— steven ruiz, For The Win, "How an injury in 2005 sparked Villanova's dynasty," 3 Apr. 2018
But in the mean time, advocacy groups are exploring options.

— libby solomon, baltimoresun.com, "Advocates for a 'New in '22' Towson High explore delisting its landmark status," 29 Mar. 2018
In the mean time, there are some alternatives for dyeing your hair sans bleach.

— de elizabeth, Teen Vogue, "Researchers Determine Graphene Works as a Hair Dye," 18 Mar. 2018
In the mean time, anyone thinking of sneaking beer into Spectrum Center needs to think again.

— mark price, charlotteobserver, "Vexing NCAA tournament rule will fuel more beer drinking in uptown Charlotte | Charlotte Observer," 16 Mar. 2018
In the mean time, the city has made an amendment of $160,000 in the FY 2018 Police Dispatch-Machinery budget for these expenditures.

— karen huppertz, ajc, "Duluth to purchase 911 dispatch system," 28 Feb. 2018
In the mean time, Mississippi Republicans will go to war with each other.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Endorses Another GOP Senator Facing a Perilous Primary Battle," 27 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mean time.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of mean time

1751

MEANTIME Defined for Kids

meantime

noun mean·time \ ˈmēn-ˌtīm \

1 : the time between events or points of time

You can play again but in the meantime rest.

2 : a time during which more than one thing is being done

He napped, and in the meantime I worked.

meantime

adverb

: in the time between events or points of time or during which more than one thing is being done

She worked and meantime raised a family.

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See words that rhyme with meantime Spanish Central: Translation of meantime Nglish: Translation of meantime for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of meantime for Arabic speakers

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