How to Use ‘Meanwhile’ in IELTS: Connecting Simultaneous Events
Learn the meaning, usage, and importance of ‘meanwhile’ for IELTS. Discover its word type, history, synonyms, and antonyms. Improve your vocabulary with example sentences and avoid common mistakes to boost your IELTS score.
Imagine you’re studying for an important exam while your friend is having a party. Meanwhile, your parents are planning a surprise trip for you.
This word meanwhile helps us connect different events happening at the same time. Let’s learn more about it to boost your IELTS vocabulary.
Word type: Meanwhile is an adverb. It’s used to describe when things are happening.
Meaning: Meanwhile means during the same time, or in the intervening period.
It’s used to talk about what’s occurring at the same moment as another event or between two points in time.
Word history: The word meanwhile comes from combining mean, which used to mean middle or intermediate, and while, which refers to a period of time.
It has been used in English since the fourteenth century.
Antonyms: Some opposite words for meanwhile include before, after, subsequently, and later.
Synonyms: Words with similar meanings to meanwhile include simultaneously, at the same time, in the meantime, and concurrently.
Examples use in sentences: Here are some examples of how to use meanwhile in sentences. I was busy cooking dinner. Meanwhile, my children were doing their homework.
The main character went to school. Meanwhile, the villain was planning an attack on the city. We waited for our flight to board.
Meanwhile, we enjoyed a coffee at the airport café. Common errors in use: Some people mistakenly use meanwhile at the beginning of a sentence without connecting it to a previous idea.
Remember, meanwhile is used to link two simultaneous events or situations. Also, avoid using meanwhile too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive.
Now you know how to use meanwhile correctly in your IELTS speaking and writing tasks. Practice using it in your everyday conversations and written work to become more comfortable with this useful word.
Remember, expanding your vocabulary is key to improving your IELTS band score.
