among

preposition

Save Word

\ ə-ˈməŋ

variants: or less commonly amongst \ ə-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

6a : through the reciprocal acts of quarreling among themselves

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

Synonyms Between vs. Among: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More About among

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

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The project proposes to improve access to and use of internet services among Pima and Maricopa tribal members in Pinal and Maricopa counties. — Arlyssa D. Becenti, The Arizona Republic, 11 May 2022 The map helps dictate power and influence on the council and an agreement among the council members means a decision about the ward boundaries will not go to voters at the end of June. — John Byrne, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2022 As his assistants toil nearby, Pesce discusses, among other things, why that which separates us keeps us together. — New York Times, 10 May 2022 Frustration with Covid lockdowns has receded, but anger over the state’s myriad other problems—crime, homelessness, lousy schools, high energy and housing costs and electricity blackouts, among other things—hasn’t waned. — Allysia Finley, WSJ, 9 May 2022 What’s On Netflix has published an analysis of Netflix movies in the US — which found, among other things, that back in May 2015 there were 4,751 movies (again, in the US) available to stream. — Andy Meek, BGR, 8 May 2022 Lee, at 75, is among the younger members of the group. — Tal Kopan, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 2022 Creating an active community on Discord may present certain challenges, but the platform allows for votes, announcements and lively discussions among members. — Sundance Monty Brennan, Forbes, 6 May 2022 Last month, the company announced a deal with Microsoft to help secure its supply chain by, among other things, using automation to speed up operations and replicate the company’s facilities online. — Danielle Wiener-bronner, CNN, 6 May 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'among.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.