betweenness

noun

be·​tween·​ness bi-ˈtwēn-nəs How to pronounce betweenness (audio)
bē-
: the quality or state of being between two others in an ordered mathematical set

Examples of betweenness in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In The Letters of Thom Gunn, a new, behemoth collection of private correspondence across six decades, Gunn grapples with his states of in-betweenness: between being English and American; between writing free verse and formal verse; between exercising emotion and rationality. Jeremy Lybarger, The New Republic, 17 June 2022 Entering this translucent chamber is a purely sensory experience of in-betweenness. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2023 The Hawai‘i Triennial 2022, on exhibit through May 8, brings this trend to the forefront, inviting local leaders and international artists to explore concepts of in-betweenness throughout Honolulu. Martha Cheng, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2022 But his stories also stress the ebullience, the possibility, that can emerge from in-betweenness. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2022 That in-betweenness, and that bustling energy and statelessness. San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 What these stories add up to is a portrayal of the refugee experience, in all its vulnerability and variety, its painful in-betweenness. Ursula Lindsey, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 But if an inability to categorize causes discomfort in some, this sort of in-betweenness is just what some are looking for, especially at a time when gender and taste both feel, rightfully and crucially, so fluid. New York Times, 17 May 2022 The year’s top New Yorker stories seem to reflect our moment of in-betweenness. Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2021

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

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of betweenness was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near betweenness

Cite this Entry

“Betweenness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/betweenness. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

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