among

preposition \ ə-ˈməŋ \

variants: or less commonly amongst play \-ˈməŋ(k)st\

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

quarreling among themselves

b :through the joint action of

made a fortune among themselves

See among defined for English-language learners

See among defined for kids

between vs. among

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

Examples of among in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year