I am a bit confused on how to use "meanwhile". I know you can use it as a connector. Meanwhile, I did not notice
I see dictionary.com says:
noun
- meantime.
adverb
in the intervening time; during the interval.
at the same time:
Meanwhile, the others were back home enjoying themselves.
I assume this is fine:
Let's have a beer. Meanwhile, they will be playing tennis
But I wonder, can you use it like this?
Let's have a beer meanwhile they play tennis
Best Answer
As the Lucian Sava pointed meanwhile is an adverb, here I want to point a difference in their usage and meaning.
According to Longman:
As you see, meanwhile is used for two concurrent activities:
In the sentence above both activities are important to be mentioned. You inform the hearer about two activities.
but while is used to focus on one activity that is happening during another activity.
In the sentence above you mainly want to say "let's have a bear", but you also add that you do this while they play tennis.