between

1 of 2

preposition

be·​tween bi-ˈtwēn 

bē-

1

a

: by the common action of : jointly engaging

shared the work between the two of them

talks between the three

—Time

b

: in common to : shared by

divided between his four grandchildren

2

a

: in the time, space, or interval that separates

the alley between the butcher shop and the pharmacy

should arrive between 9 and 10 o'clock

b

: in intermediate relation to

weighs somewhere between a pound and a pound and a half

3

a

: from one to another of

air service between Miami and Chicago

b

: serving to connect or unite in a relationship (such as difference, likeness, or proportion)

a one-to-one correspondence between sets

mutual understanding between them

c

: setting apart

the line between fact and fancy

4

a

: in preference for one or the other of

had no difficulty deciding between the two

b

: in point of comparison of

little difference between the two cars

5

: in confidence restricted to

a secret between you and me

6

: taking together the combined effect of

between work and family life, they have no time for hobbies

Between vs. Among: Usage Guide

There is a persistent but unfounded notion that between can be used only of two items and that among must be used for more than two. Between has been used of more than two since Old English; it is especially appropriate to denote a one-to-one relationship, regardless of the number of items. It can be used when the number is unspecified

economic cooperation between nations

, when more than two are enumerated

between you and me and the lamppost

partitioned between Austria, Prussia, and Russia

—Nathaniel Benchley

, and even when only one item is mentioned (but repetition is implied).

pausing between every sentence to rap the floor

—George Eliot

Among is more appropriate where the emphasis is on distribution rather than individual relationships.

discontent among the peasants

When among is automatically chosen for more than two, English idiom may be strained.

a worthy book that nevertheless falls among many stools

—John Simon

the author alternates among mod slang, clichés and quotes from literary giants

—A. H. Johnston

between

2 of 2

adverb

: in an intermediate space or interval

two beds with a nightstand between

Examples of between in a Sentence

Preposition

The ball rolled between the desk and the wall.

He stood between his mother and his father.

The office has two desks with a table between them.

They put up a fence between their house and their neighbor's house.

There are fences between all the houses.

If you want to lose weight, you shouldn't eat between meals.

Between bites of food, they talked to their teacher.

The two days between Monday and Thursday are Tuesday and Wednesday.

We should arrive between 9 and 10 o'clock.

Adverb

The office has two desks with a table between.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

Ellie Davis drove in another with a single between shortstop and third. —Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

What is the difference between periodical and annual cicadas? —Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Preposition and Adverb

Middle English betwene, preposition & adverb, from Old English betwēonum, from be- + -twēonum (dative plural) (akin to Goth tweihnai two each); akin to Old English twā two

First Known Use

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing between

• between a rock and a hard place
• between Scylla and Charybdis
• between the devil and the deep blue sea
• between the lines
• between the rock and the hard place
• between you and me
• betwixt and between
• come between
• daylight between
• decide between
• draw/make an analogy between
• draw parallels between
• drive a wedge between
• fall between two stools
• fall through/between the cracks
• few and far between
• get/take the bit between one's teeth
• go-between
• in between
• put some daylight between
• read between the lines
• right between the eyes
• slip through/between the cracks
• stand between
• suspend between
• with one's tail between one's legs

Video

I vs. Me

'Between you and __'? Simple guidance for a tricky pronoun.

Kids Definition

between

1 of 2 preposition

be·​tween bi-ˈtwēn 

1

: by the common action of

ate six pizzas between them

2

: in the time or space that separates

between nine and ten o'clock

between the desk and the wall

3

a

: from one to the other of

flying between Miami and Chicago

b

: joining or linking in some relationship

the bond between friends

the difference between soccer and football

4

: in comparison of

there's not much to choose between the two coats

5

: staying known by only certain people

a secret between you and me

6

: taking together the combined effect of

between school and sports, they have little time for TV

between

2 of 2 adverb

: in an intermediate space or interval

two cars with a truck between