What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
meantime
Example
In the meantime, I'll start preparing dinner. [meantime: noun]
Example
She decided to read a book in the meantime while waiting for her friend. [meantime: adverb]
interval
Example
The interval between the two trains was only five minutes. [interval: noun]
Example
The speaker took a short interval to catch his breath before continuing. [interval: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Interval is more commonly used than meantime in everyday language. Interval is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while meantime is less common and often used in conversational contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between meantime and interval?
Interval is more commonly used in formal or technical contexts, while meantime is often used in informal or conversational contexts. Both words can be used in various formality levels, but interval is generally considered more formal than meantime.
