variants or amidst
ə-ˈmidst How to pronounce amid (audio)
-ˈmitst
1
: in or into the middle of : surrounded by : among
amid the crowd
2
a
: during
amid the fighting
b
: with the accompaniment of
resigned amid rumors of misconduct

Examples of amid in a Sentence

It was hard to hear amid all the cheering. The investigation comes amid growing concerns. Amid such changes, one thing stayed the same. He managed to escape amid the confusion. There was a single dark bird amid a flock of white pigeons.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Though air conditioning can be life saving − particularly amid record setting heat waves like the one that scorched the country in late June − some people simply don’t like it, according to Gail Brager, director of the Center for the Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 5 July 2025 His character was deeply respected in the Hazzard community, often acting as a steadying influence amid the chaos. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 5 July 2025 Temporary provisions under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act left many families in holding patterns, hesitant to make long-term commitments amid regulatory uncertainty. Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025 Even as a marquee project, the Kalma tourism zone took nearly a decade to build amid international sanctions and pandemic lockdown. Se Eun Gong, NPR, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for amid

Word History

Etymology

amid from Middle English amidde, from Old English onmiddan, from on + middan, dative of midde mid; amidst from Middle English amiddes, from amidde + -es -s

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of amid was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Amid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amid. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

amid

preposition
variants or amidst
: in or into the middle of
amid the crowd

More from Merriam-Webster on amid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!