meanwhile
/ˈmiːnwaɪl/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.48 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "In the meanwhile, the surveyors carried the line three miles, which was no contemptible day's work, considering how cruelly they were entangled with briers and gallbushes."
- "There was a party going on downstairs. Meanwhile, I was reading a book."
- "Meanwhile Nanny Broome was recovering from her initial panic and seemed anxious to make up for any kudos she might have lost, by exerting her personality to the utmost. She took the policeman's helmet and placed it on a chair, and unfolded his tunic to shake it and fold it up again for him."
- "We’re going on holiday next month; meanwhile, keep working on the project."
- "The day may dawn when fair play, love for one's fellow men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair."
- "“[…] I’m not ignoring you, I’m very sorry, I’ll talk to you soon. Meanwhile, get your tickets.”"
Etymology
From Middle English menewhile, equivalent to mean (“intermediate”) + while. Adverb is by ellipsis from in the mean while, noun being conventionally written as one word after the adjective.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: menewhile