# meanwhile vs. meantime

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-vs-meantime/338341>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 4, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-vs-meantime/338341 "2006-01-04T04:04:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-vs-meantime/338341/1 "2006-01-04T04:04:30Z")

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Aren’t you supposed to use “in the” when you use “meantime” in a sentence?

“John was out working in the yard . In the meantime, his brother was inside fast asleep.”

“John was out working in the yard . Meanwhile, his brother was inside fast asleep.”

“John was out working in the yard . Meantime, his brother was inside fast asleep.”

It sounds so irritating to me when people on TV use “meantime” without first saying “in the”.

Has this usage changed?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [January 4, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/meanwhile-vs-meantime/338341/2 "2006-01-04T04:13:02Z")

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Obviously, if people are using it this way, yes.

Though the OED also says that “meantime” has been used in this way since 1593:

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> a1593 MARLOWE Edward II (1594) sig. E, Mean time my lord of Penbrooke and my selfe Will to Newcastell heere, and gather head.

Shakespeare used it, too:

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> 1598 SHAKESPEARE L.L.L. II. i. 169 Meane time, receiue such welcome at my hand, As Honour…may Make tender of, to thy true worthinesse.