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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Preposition
The maximum field tolerance of these MRAM devices is between a few tens of milliTesla, mT, to 100mT, depending upon the MRAM target application. Thomas Coughlin, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 According to court records, this was an Oct. 21 settlement conference, a meeting between the prosecution and defense aimed at reaching a resolution without a trial. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Oct. 2024
Adverb
His appearances on the trek may soon become fewer and farther between, though, as the Chiefs gear up for training camp this month. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 July 2024 In managing our data, there is a push-pull between centralized and decentralized identity management. Lila Kee, Forbes, 4 May 2023 See all Example Sentences for between 

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 8 Nov. 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
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