Interim refers to a temporarylasting only for a limited time, not permanently perioda length of time with a beginning and end between two points in time, or to something that exists or happens during that period. It is common in everyday English, especially in phrases like interim solution, interim period, and interim agreementa decision made by two or more sides that they accept.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈɪn.tər.ɪm/
Easy pronunciation: IN-tər-im (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Noun sense: the time between one event, process, or period and another.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Interim Meaning
the time in between two things
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the time between one event, process, or period and another
Example: In the interim, we’ll keep working from the temporary office.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- meantime — Works well as a substitute for the noun sense meaning the intervening time.
- meanwhile — Can replace the idea of the time in between, though it is also often used as an adverb.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Interim
Meaning 2
temporary, for the time being
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: serving during an intermediate interval of time
Example: an interim agreement
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Interim Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- meantime
- meanwhile
temporary; lasting only for a short time until something permanent is arranged
- interim
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse interim with meantime or meanwhile when using it as an adjective.
- Interim as an adjective means temporary, not merely 'later' or 'during that time.'
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does interim mean?
Interim means the time between two events or periods, or something that is temporary during that time.
What is an interim agreement?
An interim agreement is a temporary agreement made until a final one is reached.
What are some synonyms for interim?
For the noun sense, meantime and meanwhile are close synonyms. For the adjective sense, the idea is temporary or provisional, though those are not exact matches for the word itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
