Meantime vs Mean Time Quiz
Few pairs look as alike on the page as meantime vs mean time, and spell-check rarely helps because both versions pass. Writers mix them up because they sound identical when spoken and because “mean” has several meanings. Here’s how to tell them apart for good.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| meantime | The time between two events; meanwhile | Noun and adverb | In the meantime, I’ll start the report. |
| mean time | An average duration | Adjective + noun (technical term) | The mean time to repair is two hours. |
What does meantime mean?
Meantime refers to the period between two points in time or two events. It most often appears in the phrase “in the meantime,” which means “while we wait” or “until then.” For example: “The oven is heating up. In the meantime, chop the onions.” It also works as an adverb on its own, as in “Meantime, the other team was catching up,” though meanwhile is more common there.
What does mean time mean?
Mean time is two words, and mean works as an adjective meaning “average.” You’ll see it in technical and scientific contexts: “mean time between failures” (MTBF) in engineering, or “mean time to repair” in IT support. It also appears in “Greenwich Mean Time,” where mean refers to the averaged length of the solar day. If you are talking about averages or measurements, use two words.
Is “in the mean time” correct?
The standard spelling of the everyday phrase is “in the meantime,” with one word. You will sometimes see “in the mean time” in print, and some usage sources treat it as an accepted variant, but it can look like an error to editors and readers, since it suggests “average time.” Stick with the one-word form and you’ll never be marked wrong.
Is meantime one word?
Yes. Meantime is a standard English word listed in major dictionaries. It can be a noun (“in the meantime”) or an adverb (“Meantime, prices rose”). Two words, mean time, are only correct when mean modifies time, such as “the mean time was 12 minutes.”
How can you remember meantime vs mean time?
Ask whether you could replace the phrase with “meanwhile.” If yes, use meantime; if the sentence is about an average, use mean time. Three tricks help:
- Swap test: If “meanwhile” fits, write one word.
- Average test: If you could say “average time,” write two words.
- Glue trick: Time glued between two events gets glued into one word: meantime.
Common meantime vs mean time mistakes
- In the mean time, let’s grab lunch. → In the meantime, let’s grab lunch.
- The meantime between failures is 400 hours. → The mean time between failures is 400 hours.
- Greenwich Meantime → Greenwich Mean Time
- Mean time, the kids were playing outside. → Meantime, the kids were playing outside.
- The meantime to respond was 5 minutes. → The mean time to respond was 5 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is it “in the meantime” or “in the mean time”?
Use “in the meantime.” It is the standard form; the two-word version is a less common variant.
What is the difference between meantime and meanwhile?
They mean nearly the same thing. Meanwhile is mainly an adverb, while meantime is also a noun, as in “in the meantime.”
What does mean time mean in engineering?
It means an average duration, such as the mean time between failures or the mean time to repair.
Is Greenwich Mean Time written as one word?
No. It is always three words: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Can I use meantime without “in the”?
Yes. As an adverb, “Meantime, we kept working” is acceptable, though “meanwhile” is more common.
Conclusion
The meantime vs mean time question comes down to one test: does the sentence mean “meanwhile” or “average”? One word covers the gap between events; two words cover averages. Share this with someone who mixes these up!