meantime C1 Topic:Communication US /ˈmiːntaɪm/ See IPA manual Freq #3344 Meanings 1 noun The period of time between two events; used mainly in the phrase 'in the meantime'. Dinner will be ready soon; in the meantime, please sit down. 2 adv During the time between two events; meanwhile. The bus comes at six; meantime, we can have a coffee. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the period of time between... interimmeanwhile 2 adv · during the time between two... meanwhile Etymology AI details From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime. menetime Middle English View etymology graph -> Topics Communication External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # meantime **Type:** Word **Level:** C1 **Part of speech:** noun, adv **IPA (US):** /ˈmiːntaɪm/ **Frequency rank:** 3344 ## Meanings 1. The period of time between two events; used mainly in the phrase 'in the meantime'. 2. During the time between two events; meanwhile. ## Examples - Dinner will be ready soon; in the meantime, please sit down. - The bus comes at six; meantime, we can have a coffee. ## Roots and Affixes - Root: menetime ## Etymology From Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime. ## AI Etymology Meantime comes from Middle English menetime, equivalent to mean + time. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the meantime. The historical chain includes menetime (Middle English). In present use it covers the period of time between two events; used mainly in the phrase 'in the meantime' and during the time between two events; meanwhile. ## Topics - Communication markdown