meanwhile

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++mean·while /ˈmiːnwaɪl/ ●●● W2 adverb [sentence adverb]  1  TIME/AT THE SAME TIMEwhile something else is happening 与此同时 Cook the sauce over a medium heat until it thickens. Meanwhile start boiling the water for the pasta. 用中火把调味汁煮到变稠，同时烧水准备煮意大利面。► see thesaurus at while2  BETWEEN (also in the meanwhile) in the period of time between two events 在此期间 The flight will be announced soon. Meanwhile, please remain seated. 很快就要广播通知登机，在此期间请继续留在座位上。 I knew I wouldn’t get my exam results for several weeks, and I wasn’t sure what to do in the meanwhile. 我知道我要几星期后才能拿到考试成绩，我不知道这期间该做什么。3  TIME/AT THE SAME TIMEused to compare two things, especially if they are completely different and are happening at the same time 在这期间，与此同时〔尤用以比较同时发生的两件完全相反的事〕 The incomes of male professionals went up by almost 80%. Meanwhile, part-time women workers saw their earnings fall. 男性专业人员的收入增加了将近80%，与此同时，女性兼职人员的收入却有所下降。

Examples from the Corpus

meanwhile• Leave the vegetables to simmer, and meanwhile bring a large pot of water to a boil.• The United States administration meanwhile came under increasing congressional criticism for its failure to take a position on the situation in Zaïre.• The robbers, meanwhile, decided to attack back.• His reputation as a songwriter meanwhile grew rapidly.• Raskin, meanwhile, insisted that Jobs was incapable of running a successful project.• Fisher, meanwhile, is expected to be sentenced to one year in prison for his offenses.• People keep complaining about the service at hospitals, and meanwhile more and more nurses are losing their jobs.• Jim went to answer the phone. Meanwhile, Pete started to prepare lunch.• Cromwell, meanwhile, picked up his hat and dusted it off.• Payton, meanwhile, took a tumble to the floor and had Mark Bryant fall on him, bruising his back.• Miss Honey, meanwhile, was making another decision.• They're still working on our bedroom. Meanwhile, we're sleeping out back in tents.• Three helicopters scanned the area; the soldiers meanwhile were looking into back gardens, dustbins, and under hedgerows.

mean·while adverbChineseSyllable  

something Corpus happening is else while

meanwhile
mean‧while W2 /ˈmiːnwaɪl/ adverb [sentence adverb]
1. while something else is happening:
    Cook the sauce over a medium heat until it thickens. Meanwhile start boiling the water for the pasta.
2. (also in the meanwhile) in the period of time between two events:
    The flight will be announced soon. Meanwhile, please remain seated.
    I knew I wouldn’t get my exam results for several weeks, and I wasn’t sure what to do in the meanwhile.
3. used to compare two things, especially if they are completely different and are happening at the same time:
    The incomes of male professionals went up by almost 80%. Meanwhile, part-time women workers saw their earnings fall.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ while during the time that you are doing something, or something is happening: I bought a magazine while I was waiting for the train. | While we were on holiday, my bag was stolen.
   ▪ meanwhile at the same time as something else is happening: They’re still working on our bedroom. Meanwhile, we’re sleeping downstairs. | The Russians, meanwhile, declared war on August 8.
   ▪ in the meantime during the period of time between now and a future event, or between two events in the past: More aid is expected soon, but in the meantime these people are going hungry. | My new job hadn’t started, so in the meantime I tried to write a book.
   ▪ whilst British English while. Whilst sounds a little more formal than while: One American plane was forced to land whilst flying over North Korea. | Whilst all this was going on, the performers were getting ready for the show.