mean ‧ time /ˈmiːntaɪm/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . ( also in the meantime ) in the period of time between now and a future event, or between two events in the past SYN meanwhile :
The doctor will be here soon. In the meantime, try and relax.
I didn’t see her for another five years, and in the meantime she had got married and had a couple of kids.
2 . for the meantime for the present time, until something happens:
The power supply should be back soon – for the meantime we’ll have to use candles.