among

among

preposition \ə-ˈməŋ\

Definition of AMONG

1

: in or through the midst of : surrounded by <hidden among the trees>

2

: in company or association with <living among artists>

3

: by or through the aggregate of <discontent among the poor>

4

: in the number or class of <wittiest among poets> <among other things she was president of her college class>

5

: in shares to each of <divided among the heirs>

6

a : through the reciprocal acts of <quarrel among themselves>

b : through the joint action of <made a fortune among themselves>

See Usage Discussion at between

Variants of AMONG

among also amongst \-ˈməŋ(k)st\

Examples of AMONG

1. The disease spread quickly among the members of the community.
2. The house is nestled among the trees.
3. The ball was hidden among the leaves.
4. There were ducks among the geese.
5. There were several hecklers scattered among the crowd.
6. He lived among artists and writers.
7. The people of the town were frightened to think that a killer might be living among them.

Origin of AMONG

among from Middle English, from Old English on gemonge, from on + gemonge, dative of gemong crowd, from ge- (associative prefix) + -mong (akin to Old English mengan to mix); amongst from Middle English amonges, from among + -es -s — more at co-, mingle

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to AMONG

Synonyms

amid (or amidst), mid, midst, through, in the thick of

Related Words

between, betwixt

Near Antonyms

from, out of

Rhymes with AMONG

bee-stung, black lung, brown lung, far-flung, forked tongue, high-strung, iron lung, Kaifeng, low-slung, unsung, with young