Etymologically
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meanwhile

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 01:26. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˌmiːnˈwaɪl/, /ˈmiːn.waɪl/, US /ˈmiːn.waɪl/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English mene while, formed from mean “middle, intermediate” and while (noun).[2][3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a noun, the meantime, the interval between one time and another: the late 14th century in Etymonline, before 1382 in the Historical Thesaurus.[2][6] As an adverb, during that time: the late 14th century in Etymonline, 1440 in the Historical Thesaurus.[2][6]

Semantic evolution

As a noun it is properly two words but is commonly written as one, after the adverb.[2] In the adversative sense, “on the other hand, nevertheless”, it is from 1597.[6] The noun now survives mainly in the phrase in the meanwhile, and is otherwise rare.[5][6]

Timeline

  • a. 1382 – noun, the meantime.[6]
  • 1440 – adverb, in the meantime.[6]
  • 1597 – on the other hand.[6]

Modern meaning

Adverb

  1. During the time between two events.
  2. At the same time, especially in another place.
  3. Used to compare two things: on the other hand.

Noun

  1. The time in between; the meantime.

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Kay, Christian; Roberts, Jane; Samuels, Michael; Wotherspoon, Irené, eds. (2009), Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford: Oxford University Press; online edition (2024)