On this page15 sections
- Contents
- Quick picker
- Meaning 1: happening together
- Formal and technical words
- Joining two actions: while, as, when, during
- Together in one movement or voice
- Meaning 2: a contrast or second point
- Idioms for doing two things at once
- Feeling two things at the same time
- In emails, essays and stories
- Punctuation and position
- All the alternatives by register
- Common mistakes
- Practice with answers
- Quick answers
“At the same time” has two meanings, and the right alternative depends on which one you mean. If two things happen together, say simultaneously, at once, concurrently, in parallel, side by side or use while and as. If you are adding a contrast (“It’s expensive. At the same time, it lasts for years”), say however, even so, that said, still, on the other hand or then again.
Below, the alternatives are grouped by meaning and register, each with an example sentence. You will also find linking words that join two actions in one sentence, idioms for doing two things at once, words for feeling two things at once, punctuation, common mistakes and practice with answers.
Contents
- Quick picker
- Meaning 1: happening together
- Formal and technical words
- Joining two actions: while, as, when, during
- Together in one movement or voice
- Meaning 2: a contrast or second point
- Idioms for doing two things at once
- Feeling two things at the same time
- In emails, essays and stories
- Punctuation and position
- All the alternatives by register
- Common mistakes
- Practice with answers
Quick picker
| You want to say… | Try | Example |
|---|---|---|
| two things happen at one moment | simultaneously, at once, at the same moment | Both alarms went off simultaneously. |
| two things run over the same period | concurrently, in parallel, alongside | The two projects ran in parallel. |
| one action happens during another | while, as, when, during, meanwhile | He cooked while she set the table. |
| everyone does it together | in unison, together, as one, in chorus | The class answered in unison. |
| things move or work in step | in sync, in step, in tandem, hand in hand | Prices and wages rose in tandem. |
| a contrast with what you just said | however, even so, that said, still, yet | The job pays well. That said, the hours are long. |
| a second, balancing point | on the other hand, then again, equally | It’s risky. Then again, so is doing nothing. |
| you do two jobs at once | multitask, juggle, wear two hats | She juggles a full-time job and a degree. |
Meaning 1: happening together
| Alternative | Note | Example |
|---|---|---|
| simultaneously | neutral to formal; exactly together | The film was released simultaneously in forty countries. |
| at once | everyday; “all at once” adds suddenness | Everyone started talking at once. |
| at the same moment | stresses an instant | At the same moment, the lights went out. |
| together | simple; often about people or things joined | We arrived together. |
| side by side | two things existing or working together | Old and new buildings stand side by side. |
| alongside | as well as, at the same time as | She studied law alongside her job. |
| in the meantime / meanwhile | during the time that something else happens | The pasta needs ten minutes. Meanwhile, make the sauce. |
| all the while | during the whole time (often with surprise) | He said he was ill, and all the while he was at the match. |
| back to back | one right after the other (not at the same time) | I had three meetings back to back. |
Back to back is listed because it is often confused with “at the same time”: it means one after another without a break.
Formal and technical words
| Word | Where you see it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| concurrently | law, business, computing | The two prison sentences will run concurrently. |
| in parallel | projects, processes, research | The tests were carried out in parallel. |
| synchronously | technology, biology | The two clocks run synchronously. |
| coincide (with) | events, dates (verb) | The festival coincides with the school holidays. |
| overlap (with) | periods of time (verb) | My shift overlaps with hers by two hours. |
| contemporaneous | history, law; existing in the same period | The diary is a contemporaneous record of the siege. |
| coexist | two things existing together (verb) | Different traditions coexist in the city. |
Concurrent sentences are served at the same time; consecutive sentences are served one after the other. The pair is a common source of confusion in news reports.
Joining two actions: while, as, when, during
Often the most natural way to say “at the same time” is not a phrase at all but a linking word that joins two clauses.
- while (two longer actions): “I listen to podcasts while I run.”
- as (two actions developing together, or a short one during a longer one): “As the sun rose, the birds began to sing.”
- when (a short event during a longer one): “The phone rang when I was in the shower.”
- just as (exactly at the moment): “Just as we sat down, the baby woke up.”
- during + noun: “Please don’t talk during the film.”
- throughout + noun (the whole time): “She was calm throughout the interview.”
- the whole time: “He smiled the whole time he was speaking.”
Compare: “She read while he cooked” (two activities in the same period) and “She read; at the same time, he cooked” (the same meaning, but heavier). In most writing, the single linking word is smoother.
Because while also means “although” (“While I like him, I don’t trust him”), it can sit on the border between the two meanings. If the sentence could be read either way, choose although for contrast or as for time.
Together in one movement or voice
- in unison: “The choir sang the last line in unison.”
- as one: “The crowd rose as one when the goal went in.”
- in chorus: “‘Happy birthday!’ they shouted in chorus.”
- in sync / in synch (informal): “The dancers were perfectly in sync.”
- in step: “The soldiers marched in step.” Figuratively: “Our pay is not in step with prices.”
- in tandem: “The two departments work in tandem.”
- hand in hand: “Poverty and poor health often go hand in hand.”
- in lockstep (rigidly together, often critical): “The markets moved in lockstep.”
Meaning 2: a contrast or second point
“At the same time” also introduces a point that balances or limits what came before: “I’d love to help. At the same time, I can’t promise anything.” These alternatives do the same job, from casual to formal.
| Alternative | Register | Example |
|---|---|---|
| but / yet | neutral; inside one sentence | The flat is small, yet it feels spacious. |
| still | neutral | It was a long trip. Still, we enjoyed it. |
| that said / having said that | conversational | The plan is good. That said, it needs more money. |
| mind you | informal, British | He’s a slow worker. Mind you, he never makes mistakes. |
| then again | conversational; a second thought | I might take the job. Then again, it’s a long commute. |
| even so | neutral | The test was easy. Even so, half the class failed. |
| however | neutral to formal | The results are promising. However, the sample is small. |
| on the other hand | neutral; comparing two sides | Cities are noisy. On the other hand, there is more to do. |
| nevertheless / nonetheless | formal | The risks are real. Nevertheless, the trial will go ahead. |
| by the same token | formal; adds a parallel point, not a contrast | Good work should be rewarded; by the same token, poor work should be addressed. |
More contrast words, with how strong each one is, are in another word for however. For giving reasons rather than contrasts, see other ways to say because.
Idioms for doing two things at once
| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kill two birds with one stone | achieve two aims with one action | I’ll visit Mum and pick up the parcel: two birds with one stone. |
| wear two hats / wear many hats | have two roles at once | In a small firm you wear many hats. |
| juggle | manage several things at once (verb) | She juggles two jobs and a baby. |
| have a lot on your plate | have many tasks at the same time | I can’t take this on; I’ve got a lot on my plate. |
| have your cake and eat it | want two incompatible things at once | You want a big garden and a city-centre flat? You can’t have your cake and eat it. |
| in the same breath | say two contradictory things together | He praised the plan and, in the same breath, said it wouldn’t work. |
| walk and chew gum (at the same time) | American; to manage more than one simple task | A government should be able to walk and chew gum. |
| burn the candle at both ends | work late and get up early, overdoing it | Studying all night and working all day, he was burning the candle at both ends. |
More time and busy idioms: idioms for time and idioms for busy.
Feeling two things at the same time
If you are looking for one word for two feelings at once (for example happy and sad), the usual choices are:
- bittersweet: happy and sad together. “Graduation was bittersweet.”
- mixed feelings: “I have mixed feelings about moving.”
- ambivalent: unsure because you feel two opposite ways. “She was ambivalent about the offer.”
- torn: pulled between two choices. “I’m torn between the two jobs.”
- conflicted: “He felt conflicted about reporting his friend.”
A full list is in words for feeling happy and sad at the same time.
In emails, essays and stories
The same idea calls for different words depending on what you are writing.
Work emails
- “We can run the pilot in parallel with the main rollout.” (two workstreams)
- “I’ll send the contract today; in the meantime, please check the figures.” (while waiting)
- “Our team will handle both orders concurrently, so there will be no delay.”
- “I understand the deadline. That said, two extra days would let us test properly.” (polite contrast)
Essays and reports
- “Inflation and unemployment rose simultaneously, which the model did not predict.”
- “The policy reduced emissions. Nevertheless, it raised household costs.” (formal contrast)
- “Urban growth and rural decline occurred in tandem throughout the period.”
- “Both factors coincided in 2008.”
Stories
- “Just as she reached the door, the lights went out.” (a sudden, exact moment)
- “All at once, the room was full of noise.” (sudden and together)
- “Meanwhile, three streets away, the thief was counting his money.” (a scene change)
- “She laughed and cried at once.” (two reactions together)
In stories, “at the same time” itself is often the weakest choice: just as, as and while keep the action moving, and meanwhile signals a cut to another scene.
Punctuation and position
- At the start of a sentence, put a comma after it: “At the same time, we need to save money.”
- In the middle, use commas on both sides when it interrupts: “The plan is, at the same time, simple and ambitious.”
- At the end, no comma is needed for the time meaning: “Don’t all talk at the same time.”
- Joining two full sentences with the contrast meaning, use a full stop or a semicolon, not a comma: “It’s cheap; at the same time, it’s well made.”
- The same rules apply to however, meanwhile and nevertheless.
All the alternatives by register
| Register | Happening together | Contrast |
|---|---|---|
| Casual | at once, together, all at once, in sync, the whole time | but, still, mind you, then again, that said |
| Neutral | while, as, meanwhile, in the meantime, side by side, alongside | however, even so, yet, on the other hand |
| Formal | simultaneously, concurrently, in parallel, in tandem, coincide with | nevertheless, nonetheless, conversely (for an opposite case) |
| Technical | synchronously, contemporaneous, concurrent | (not used) |
Conversely is not a straight swap for the contrast meaning: it introduces the opposite case (“Prices rose in the north; conversely, they fell in the south”), not a limit on what you just said.
Common mistakes
| Avoid | Better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| They arrived simultaneously at the same time. | They arrived simultaneously. | Says the same thing twice. |
| We finished in the same time. | We finished at the same time. | “In the same time” means “taking an equal amount of time”. |
| Please come at once with me. (meaning together) | Please come with me now. / Let’s go together. | At once often means “immediately”; the sentence can be misread. |
| The two meetings are back to back, so I can’t attend both. | The two meetings overlap, so I can’t attend both. | Back to back means one after the other, which you could attend. |
| While it was raining, but we went out. | Although it was raining, we went out. | Do not use while (or although) together with but. |
| The sentences will run consecutively. (meaning together) | The sentences will run concurrently. | Consecutive = one after another. |
Practice with answers
A. Which meaning does “at the same time” have: together or contrast?
- The two runners crossed the line at the same time.
- I trust her. At the same time, I’d like to see the figures.
- Don’t eat and talk at the same time.
B. Replace “at the same time” with one word or a short phrase.
- The book was published at the same time in the UK and the US.
- The choir sang the anthem at the same time, in one voice.
- The hotel is expensive. At the same time, the service is excellent.
- The two courses run at the same time, so you can’t take both.
C. Correct the mistake.
- Both doors opened simultaneously at the same time.
- My appointments are back to back, so I’ll have to cancel one.
Answers: 1 together; 2 contrast; 3 together; 4 simultaneously; 5 in unison; 6 That said / Even so / On the other hand; 7 overlap (or “run concurrently”); 8 Both doors opened simultaneously; 9 My appointments overlap, so I’ll have to cancel one.
Quick answers
What is a formal word for “at the same time”? Simultaneously for one moment, concurrently for a period of time, and nevertheless or however for the contrast meaning.
What is one word for doing two things at once? Multitasking. “Juggling” is the informal verb.
Is “at the same time” the same as “meanwhile”? Not quite. Meanwhile usually moves the story to something else happening in the same period (“Meanwhile, back at home…”); “at the same time” can mean exactly together, or introduce a contrast.
What is the difference between “simultaneously” and “concurrently”? Simultaneously usually means at exactly the same moment (“the two shots were fired simultaneously”). Concurrently usually means during the same period (“she held two jobs concurrently”), and is the standard word in law and computing.
Can I start a sentence with “at the same time”? Yes, followed by a comma. It is common in speech and in persuasive writing for the contrast meaning: “At the same time, we must be realistic.”
Is “at the same time” too informal for an essay? No, it is acceptable in formal writing in both meanings. Swap it only when a more exact word, such as simultaneously or nevertheless, says what you mean better.
For how idioms and set phrases differ from literal language, see the figurative language guide.