middle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of middlenext
1
as in mean
a middle point between extremes his salary is exactly at the middle of the company's pay scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in midst
an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface put the serving dish in the middle of the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in waist
the middle region of the human torso clutched the football tightly against her middle

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in height
the most intense or characteristic phase of something I'm right in the middle of a tax audit, so can you come back later?

Synonyms & Similar Words

middle

2 of 2

adjective

ˈmi-dᵊl How to pronounce middle (audio)
1
as in halfway
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes you must mark the exact middle point of each of these lines in order to solve the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size a house that is middle-sized for that neighborhood a man of middle height

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of middle
Noun
Slice the entire round cake straight through the middle to split it into two halves. — Betty Hallock, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 But the Brewers are setting themselves up for a bit of a logjam up the middle. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Adjective
While driving - Stick to the middle lanes and stay on elevated ground. — Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 The woes of airplane middle seats are soon to be eradicated for some United Airlines passengers. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for middle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for middle
  1. mean
  2. midst
  3. waist
  4. halfway
  5. average
  6. midpoint
  7. center
  8. mid
Noun
  • Teams that did unusually well, or poorly, in 2025 are projected to regress toward the mean.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • As long as the current system is in place, the Dodgers will not apologize for their interest to acquire the best players available through whatever means are accessible to them.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of mean
Noun
  • The Yankees are in the midst of a heated American League East Division pennant race with the pesky Tampa Bay Rays.
    — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • The 27-year-old is in the midst of the best year of his career, having already totaled career-highs in homers (21), RBIs (55) and steals (nine) while providing invaluable defensive versatility.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 July 2026
Definition of midst
Noun
  • When styled correctly, loafers are an all-day shoe that easily take you from the office to after-work drinks, while mom jeans—defined by their high-waist and relaxed fit—are appropriate for most settings while maintaining an effortless aura.
    — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Her hair was styled similarly to her mother’s in almost waist-length waves.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of waist
Adjective
  • The 26-year-old information technology administrator consumed a Red Bull energy drink around the film's halfway mark to stay alert.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 July 2026
  • The Pirates are 9 1/2 games behind the National League Central Division leading Milwaukee Brewers – but only two games out of a playoff spot at the halfway point in the season.
    — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of halfway
Adjective
  • Not an average city stay— as much as the hotel has a party scene, around hot dive and cocktail bars—there is also green space all around the property's location.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026
  • The average wait for an asylum hearing in California is 1,412 days as of that latest data.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of average
Noun
  • Understanding the promotional period's start, midpoint, and end dates is crucial.
    — Louis DeNicola, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Last quarter, Meta increased its 2026 capital spending guidance to between $125 billion and $145 billion, a $10 billion increase at the midpoint to $135 billion, citing higher costs for memory, chips and other data center components.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Definition of midpoint
Noun
  • Both men sat in opposite corners afterward before Reigns walked to the center and offered a fist, and Rollins met it.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Ebola treatment centers have been attacked by residents fueled by misinformation or anger over strict outbreak measures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of center
Adjective
  • Keegan would be appointed in September 1997 as chief operating officer, with Fulham a mid-table side in the old Second Division, looking up at Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Speculation is mounting for Grand Theft Auto 6's third trailer, with industry watchers predicting a late July to mid-August release.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of mid

Phrases Containing middle

Browse Nearby Words

middens
middle
middle age
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Middle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middle. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on middle

Nglish: Translation of middle for Spanish Speakers

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of élan

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All