interim
interim — adjective
1. describes a person, arrangement, or thing that fills a role or serves a purpose
describes a person, arrangement, or thing that fills a role or serves a purpose for a short time while a permanent replacement or final version is being found or prepared.
Gita served as interim director while the board searched for a permanent CEO.
interim + job title (director / manager / CEO)
An interim government was formed after the president resigned and before the election.
interim + government / administration
The school hired an interim teacher to cover the class until a full-time teacher arrived.
The committee adopted an interim set of rules to guide its meetings.
Vinícius took the role on an interim basis during the company restructure.
- temporary
broader in use; can be predicative or attributive, formal or informal
- provisional
suggests something arranged for now but subject to later change or confirmation
- acting
limited to job titles meaning 'currently performing the role, often while the permanent holder is away'
- caretaker
mainly used for a government or leader that holds power temporarily
- permanent
describes something lasting or intended to last indefinitely
文法句型
interim + noun
用法筆記
This sense is used only before a noun (attributive position). You can say 'an interim measure' but NOT 'The measure was interim.' For predicative use (after 'be'), use 'temporary' instead: 'The arrangement is temporary.'
常見錯誤
2. relating to a period of time shorter than a full financial or business year, esp
relating to a period of time shorter than a full financial or business year, especially describing reports, payments, or results that cover part of the year.
The company published its interim results showing a fifteen percent rise in sales.
interim results
Shareholders received an interim dividend payment of two dollars per share.
interim dividend
The interim report covers the first six months of the financial year.
Investors were pleased with the interim profit figures announced by the finance team.
- mid-year
less formal; often interchangeable for reports or financial statements
- half-yearly
more specific; implies exactly six months rather than any partial period
- annual
covering a full year rather than part of it
文法句型
interim + financial noun
用法筆記
Common in business and finance contexts. Unlike sense 1 (temporary filling of a role), this sense carries no meaning of 'short-term replacement' — it simply refers to a period within the year. Distinguish from 'interim' sense 1: an 'interim report' in this sense means a report on part of the year, not a report that serves temporarily.
常見錯誤
interim — noun
1. the period of time that passes between two events, stages, or states, during whi
the period of time that passes between two events, stages, or states, during which something is being done, prepared, or waited for.
Élise applied for several jobs; in the interim she worked at a café.
in the interim (fixed phrase)
The new software launches next month; in the interim users can access the old version.
Yael's visa was being processed; in the interim, she stayed with friends in Taipei.
The office is being renovated; in the interim the staff use a temporary space.
文法句型
in the interim
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'in the interim,' which functions as an adverbial meaning 'during the time between now and a future event.' It is more formal than 'in the meantime' or 'meanwhile.' The noun itself is rarely used outside this phrase in modern English.