between

1 of 2

preposition

be·​tween bi-ˈtwēn How to pronounce between (audio)
bē-
1
a
: by the common action of : jointly engaging
shared the work between the two of them
talks between the threeTime
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
Animation co-productions between Japanese media companies and their Asian counterparts were once few and far between, but in the past decade, with the rapid rise of animation industries in China and South Korea, the pace has picked up. Mark Schilling, Variety, 16 Mar. 2024 Prosecutors allege Kouri purchased four different life insurance policies on Eric's life totaling more than $1.9 million between 2015 and 2017. Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2024 Slice three or four ribs, slather them with your favorite barbecue sauce, and place the ribs between the bread slices. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Singapore Airlines’ fare calendar shows that premium economy tickets typically cost between $2,000 and $4,000 round trip on the U.S. routes in the coming months. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 There is also a huge clash between Italian giants AC Milan and Roma - both Champions League semifinalists within the past six years - as the Giallorossi look to go one better than last season when Jose Mourinho’s side lost to Sevilla on penalties in the final. Matias Grez, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 But smoke seeps in — through electrical sockets, air conditioning systems, crevices between floorboards and gaps in insulation. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 The new case highlights the distinction between sampling (the use of an actual recording of an artist’s performance) and interpolation (the use of the same music but re-performed by the new artists). Bill Donahue, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024 The Ghanaian American singer, raised between Atlanta, New Jersey, and Accra, has a unique grasp of many cultures, allowing for a music of osmosis that’s fluid enough to blend punk and baile funk and everything in between. The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2024
Adverb
In managing our data, there is a push-pull between centralized and decentralized identity management. Lila Kee, Forbes, 4 May 2023 The highs and lows are dramatic and the transitions between are often instantaneous, making rich fodder for TikTok, where a growing number of lips are suddenly shrinking before our eyes. Jolene Edgar, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 June 2023 Covid-19 drugs are few and far between, and generics of these drugs won’t be available in China due to failed manufacturer negotiations. Cathy Tie, STAT, 2 Feb. 2023 Leaks are few and far between, and the president has behaved as a more traditional button-down politician, giving the media few easy targets. Sarah Ellison and Elahe Izadi, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Jan. 2023 On a night in which true surprises were few and far between on the film side of the ledger, two of the biggest upsets came from non-English-language films. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Jan. 2023 In the 1950s, galleries were few and far between in Chicago. Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023 Tizzies have been few and far between in Arlington lately. Dallas News, 9 Sep. 2022 Crosswalks remain few and far between, and direct walking routes sometimes send pedestrians through parking lots. Lori Aratani, Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'between.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

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

Dictionary Entries Near between

Cite this Entry

“Between.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/between. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

between

1 of 2 preposition
be·​tween bi-ˈtwēn How to pronounce between (audio)
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
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!