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währenddessen

meanwhile, in the meantime

adverb VEH-rent-des-en Rare
Time Time Expressions

Also means

while that was happening

Usage Note

währenddessen emphasises simultaneity rather than elapsed time. Währenddessen bereitete sie das Essen vor = 'meanwhile she was preparing the food'. More explicit than dabei and contrasts with seither (sequential).

Examples

"Er telefonierte; währenddessen schrieb sie eine E-Mail."

Natural Translation

He was on the phone; meanwhile she was writing an email.

Literal Translation

He telephoned; while-that she wrote an email.

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