meanwhile synonym

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "meanwhile synonym" is not standard in written English. It could be used in contexts discussing synonyms while indicating simultaneous actions or events. Example: "The report was being finalized; meanwhile, synonym suggestions were being gathered." Alternative expressions include "at the same time" and "concurrently."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Meanwhile, the military phrase was being used as a synonym for what Dwight Eisenhower, in his 1961 farewell, called "the military-industrial complex" -- that is, the military services, defense contractors and members of Congress busy at the pork barrel.

The New York Times - Magazine

Meanwhile, irony-free anti-immigrant groups are also laying claim to the phrase, defining it as a synonym for "attrition through enforcement," which is the strategy behind harsh new laws in Alabama and, yes, Arizona.

The New Yorker

Synonym: spacehog.

The New York Times - Tech

Meanwhile, booksellers bemoan falling sales of the novel - no longer itself considered a menace to society - in favour of "dictionaries, glossaries, dictionaries of synonyms, &c".

The Guardian

Synonym: Loan approval.

The New York Times

A synonym is platforming".

The New York Times - Magazine

Not a synonym for beef.

The Guardian - Opinion

e-on -- synonym for "online".

The New York Times

Synonym to composer.

Stanford University

A synonym for honor.

Yale University

Shanghai quickly became a synonym for China.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "meanwhile" with a semicolon when connecting two independent clauses to maintain a sophisticated flow in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "meanwhile" to introduce a sequence that happens after the previous event; it must strictly denote overlap or a parallel situation.

Linguistic Context

The string "meanwhile synonym" serves as a search inquiry rather than a standard linguistic phrase. In formal discourse, "meanwhile" acts as a conjunctive adverb or temporal connector. Ludwig AI notes that the individual components are grammatically standard, though they do not form a single idiomatic unit in prose.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Academia

46%

News & Media

40%

Science

8%

Less common in

Business

4%

Wiki

1%

Personal Blogs

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, while the specific query "meanwhile synonym" is not a formal phrase found in standard literature, it effectively targets the need for temporal alternatives like "simultaneously" or "at the same time". Ludwig data demonstrates that the word "meanwhile" is a powerhouse of transition in high-authority sources such as The New York Times and UC Berkeley, where it is used to manage complex, concurrent narratives. When writing, remember that "meanwhile" provides a bridge between two simultaneous events, and selecting the right synonym can significantly alter the formality and precision of your text. Ludwig AI suggests that for academic clarity, "concurrently" is often the preferred choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simultaneously

provides a more formal and precise indication of events happening at the exact same time

at the same time

offers a common and less formal multi-word alternative

concurrently

suggests a parallel progression of events, often used in technical or legal contexts

in the meantime

focuses specifically on the interval between two other events

in the interim

acts as a more sophisticated version of "in the meantime"

meantime

serves as a direct but slightly less common adverbial variant

while

transforms the adverbial transition into a subordinate conjunction

synchronously

implies a high degree of temporal coordination, typical in scientific or engineering contexts

for the time being

emphasizes a temporary state occurring during a specific period

all the while

stresses the continuous nature of the simultaneous action

FAQs

What is the best synonym for meanwhile?

Depending on the level of formality, you can use "at the same time" for general contexts or "concurrently" for more professional or academic writing.

Can I use meanwhile to start a sentence?

Yes, it is common to start a sentence with "meanwhile" to shift the focus to another event happening at once. Alternatives like "simultaneously" serve the same function.

Is there a difference between meanwhile and in the meantime?

While both refer to temporal overlap, "meanwhile" is more frequently used as a transition between two different locations or subjects, whereas "in the meantime" often refers to the period waiting for a specific event.

How do I use meanwhile in academic writing?

In academic settings, "meanwhile" is acceptable but often replaced by more formal terms like "in the interim" or "synchronously" to describe parallel processes.