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meanwhile

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noun mean·while \ ˈmēn-ˌhwī(-ə)l , -ˌwī(-ə)l \

Definition of meanwhile

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

in the meanwhile colleges and universities have become somewhere near one hundred times more complex
—Dennis O'Brien

See meanwhile defined for English-language learners

See meanwhile defined for kids

Recent Examples of meanwhile from the Web

New versions of the MacBook Pro unveiled in November meanwhile helped the average price for the laptop range jump by almost $130 to $1,392.

— alex webb, Bloomberg.com, "Apple Products Are Too Many for a Table But Still Add Growth," 11 May 2017

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

First Known Use of meanwhile

14th century

2

meanwhile

adverb

Definition of meanwhile

1 :during the intervening time

meanwhile, however, new projects are being undertaken this year
—Jonathan Eberhart

2 :at the same time

You can set the table, and meanwhile I'll start cooking dinner.

See meanwhile defined for English-language learners

Examples of meanwhile in a Sentence

You can set the table. Meanwhile, I'll start making dinner.
She spent four years studying for her law degree. Meanwhile, she continued to work at the bank.
He can come back to work when he's feeling better, but meanwhile he should be resting as much as possible.

Recent Examples of meanwhile from the Web

Bangladeshi authorities, meanwhile, have struggled to cope with the influx, frequently turn away Rohingya civilians seeking entry and do not view them as formal refugees.

— ishaan tharoor, Washington Post, "The world’s ‘most friendless people’ are under assault yet again," 31 Aug. 2017
Google, meanwhile, is matching $1 million in donations to the American Red Cross.

— barbara ortutay, The Seattle Times, "How you can help with the disaster in Texas," 30 Aug. 2017
Real estate investments, meanwhile, hit a seven-year high in 2015, then dropped by $7 billion the next year to $42 billion.

— sonali basak, Bloomberg.com, "BlackRock Finds More Risk Assets at Insurers Than '08," 30 Aug. 2017
Middle school teachers, meanwhile, study the emergence of American government during the Revolution and through the Civil War.

— deborah sullivan brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "History teachers travel back in time to Colonial Williamsburg," 30 Aug. 2017
Alt-Cantwell, meanwhile, had given up comedy to become an activist who specialized in political spectacle.

— christopher d. cantwell, The Atlantic, "The Digitally Entangled Lives of Two Christopher Cantwells," 29 Aug. 2017
Alabama, meanwhile, has won four of the past eight national championships and lost to Clemson 35-31 in a classic championship bout in January.

— george richards, miamiherald, "Florida State Seminoles: Breaking down the 2017 season," 29 Aug. 2017
Ryan, meanwhile, was playing his first varsity season for the Raiders while waiting on his cousin to become eligible.

— rick mauch, star-telegram, "Why this football season will be a special reunion for two L.D. Bell cousins," 29 Aug. 2017
Gordon, meanwhile, is approaching truly rarefied air.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "The bottom two hitters in the Royals lineup? They’re historically bad," 28 Aug. 2017

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

First Known Use of meanwhile

14th century

MEANWHILE Defined for English Language Learners

meanwhile

adverb

Definition of meanwhile for English Language Learners

: at or during the same time : in the meantime

MEANWHILE Defined for Kids

1

meanwhile

play

noun mean·while \ ˈmēn-ˌhwīl , -ˌwīl \

Definition of meanwhile for Students

:¹meantime

2

meanwhile

adverb

Definition of meanwhile for Students

1 :²meantime

2 :at the same time

Learn More about meanwhile

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

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Examples: meanwhile in a Sentence