2
: being at neither extreme : intermediate
3
capitalized
a
: constituting a division intermediate between those prior and later or upper and lower
Middle Paleozoic
b
: constituting a period of a language or literature intermediate between one called Old and one called New or Modern
Middle Dutch
4
of a verb form or voice
: typically asserting that a person or thing both performs and is affected by the action represented
1
: a middle part, point, or position
2
: the central portion of the human body : waist
3
: the position of being among or in the midst of something
in the middle of the crowd
4
: something intermediate between extremes : mean
5
: the center of an offensive or defensive formation
especially
: the area between the second baseman and the shortstop
Synonyms
Examples of middle in a Sentence
Adjective
during the century's middle decades
High temperatures today should be in the middle 80s.
Franklin D. Roosevelt's middle initial stood for “Delano.”
Noun
A good essay will have a clear beginning, middle, and end.
He stood exactly in the middle of the room.
She opened the book to the middle and began to read.
The car stopped in the middle of the road.
The house should be finished by the middle of next summer.
The beginning and ending of the movie were good, but the middle was pretty boring.
She put her arms around his middle.
He tied the sash around his middle.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2023
The winter expansion comes as United plans to change up its boarding process, allowing travelers in window and middle seats to board earlier.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2023
Increase oven temperature to broil, and return ribs to middle rack.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2023
Meanwhile, those seeking to make peace will need to engage nontraditional actors—middle powers, humanitarian organizations, and actors from the private sector.
—Emma Beals and Peter Salisbury, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2023
As the United States, China and Russia vie for position, an array of middle powers is crowding in too.
—Declan Walsh, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023
The top notes include cinnamon, apple cake, and wild berries; the middle notes include white rose, jasmine, and honey; and the base notes include almond, tonka bean, and vanilla.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
The first collision occurred about 8:30 p.m. when a Nissan Versa crashed into a Nissan Altima that was blocking the middle lanes of north I-5, south of state Route 163, CHP Officer Salvador Castro said.
—David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2023
The magic of being a middle grader doesn’t come across the same way.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Oct. 2023
Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
During this time, the hox genes are highly expressed in the worm’s middle and butt.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2023
Tap the lightest shade in the center of the lip, then add the darker shade from the middle to just below your lips' edges.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 21 Nov. 2023
Make your bed with the two single comforters laid out flat, touching the the middle of the bed.
—Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
The fringed detail continues on the back and runs lengthwise across the middle, adding an unexpected element to the design.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2023
Following a procedure penalty, Elias found Miguel Ruiz over the middle for a 36-yard touchdown reception and a 21-14 halftime lead for the Scots.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023
Yet the concessions to Beijing have been piling up for nine months, ever since a U.S. fighter jet shot down a surveillance device that the People’s Liberation Army sent over the middle of the country.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023
Sanders was jammed up on a run up the middle from the 17 and safety Zion Puckett punched the ball out.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 12 Nov. 2023
See More
Adjective
The middle vase holds the flowers, while the space between the outer and inner vase can be filled with festive accessories.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2023
The winter expansion comes as United plans to change up its boarding process, allowing travelers in window and middle seats to board earlier.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2023
Increase oven temperature to broil, and return ribs to middle rack.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2023
Meanwhile, those seeking to make peace will need to engage nontraditional actors—middle powers, humanitarian organizations, and actors from the private sector.
—Emma Beals and Peter Salisbury, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2023
As the United States, China and Russia vie for position, an array of middle powers is crowding in too.
—Declan Walsh, New York Times, 27 Oct. 2023
The top notes include cinnamon, apple cake, and wild berries; the middle notes include white rose, jasmine, and honey; and the base notes include almond, tonka bean, and vanilla.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
The first collision occurred about 8:30 p.m. when a Nissan Versa crashed into a Nissan Altima that was blocking the middle lanes of north I-5, south of state Route 163, CHP Officer Salvador Castro said.
—David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Oct. 2023
The magic of being a middle grader doesn’t come across the same way.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Oct. 2023
Noun
Two snaps later, Herbert scrambled up the middle and refused to slide, instead plowing forward for a first down.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023
During this time, the hox genes are highly expressed in the worm’s middle and butt.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2023
Tap the lightest shade in the center of the lip, then add the darker shade from the middle to just below your lips' edges.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 21 Nov. 2023
Make your bed with the two single comforters laid out flat, touching the the middle of the bed.
—Veronica Cristino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
The fringed detail continues on the back and runs lengthwise across the middle, adding an unexpected element to the design.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2023
Following a procedure penalty, Elias found Miguel Ruiz over the middle for a 36-yard touchdown reception and a 21-14 halftime lead for the Scots.
—Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023
Yet the concessions to Beijing have been piling up for nine months, ever since a U.S. fighter jet shot down a surveillance device that the People’s Liberation Army sent over the middle of the country.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Nov. 2023
Sanders was jammed up on a run up the middle from the 17 and safety Zion Puckett punched the ball out.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 12 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'middle.' 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
Adjective
Middle English middel, from Old English; akin to Old English midde
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of middle was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing middle
Dictionary Entries Near middle
Cite this Entry
“Middle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
middle
1 of 2 adjective
mid·dle
ˈmid-ᵊl 
1
: equally distant from the ends or sides
2
: being at neither extreme : intermediate
of middle size
3
capitalized
: constituting an intermediate division or period
Middle Paleozoic
middle
2 of 2 noun1
: a middle part, point, or position : center
2
3
: the position of being among or in the midst of something
in the middle of the crowd
More from Merriam-Webster on middle
Nglish: Translation of middle for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of middle for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share