Cool MateAt the same time vs Meanwhile
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
At the same time
Top 2,000 (common)
Meanwhile
Top 2,000 (common)B1adverb
| At the same time | Meanwhile | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //æt ðə seɪm taɪm//🇺🇸 //æt ðə seɪm taɪm// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmiːnwaɪl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmiːnwaɪl/"]/ |
| Meaning | Occurring simultaneously or together. | At the same time as something else happens. |
| Example | They left the house at the same time. | Leave the cake to cool completely. Meanwhile, make the topping. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | do two things at the same time, speak at the same time, work at the same time, occur at the same time, feel at the same time | meanwhile, back at the ranch, meanwhile, in another part of town, meanwhile, across the street |
| Antonyms | - | afterwards, later |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'at the same time' with 'at the same moment'., Using it with only one subject., Placing it incorrectly in the sentence. | Omitting the comma before 'meanwhile' when used at the beginning of a sentence., 'Meanwhile' is sometimes misused in informal contexts where 'in the meantime' might be more appropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use when describing events happening together. Avoid in very formal contexts; more suitable for everyday conversations. | Use 'meanwhile' to connect two actions occurring at the same time, typically in writing or formal speech. Avoid using it in very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: At the same time vs Meanwhile
What's the difference between At the same time and Meanwhile?
At the same time: Occurring simultaneously or together. Meanwhile: At the same time as something else happens.
Can you show an example of each?
At the same time: They left the house at the same time. Meanwhile: Leave the cake to cool completely. Meanwhile, make the topping.
Can I use At the same time and Meanwhile interchangeably?
Not always. At the same time and Meanwhile are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.