among
6 synonyms for among, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Prep — Surrounded by, or in the middle of, a group of people or things.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
surrounded by
in the midst of
in the middle of
Etymology
From Old English onġemang, formed from "on" plus "ġemang" ("crowd, mixture") — literally "in the crowd of".
Full origin of among →Frequently asked questions
What does “among” mean?
The word “among” means surrounded by, or in the middle of, a group of people or things. In plain terms, surrounded by, shared between, or counted as one of a group.
How do you pronounce “among”?
“Among” is pronounced uh-MUHNG (/əˈmʌŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “among” in a sentence?
Here is “among” used in a sentence: “She felt safe among old friends.”
What is another word for “among”?
Words with a similar meaning to “among” include amid, amidst and amongst.
What part of speech is “among”?
“Among” is a preposition.
Where does the word “among” come from?
The word “among” comes from Old English. From Old English onġemang, formed from "on" plus "ġemang" ("crowd, mixture") — literally "in the crowd of".
Is “among” a common word?
“Among” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “among” have?
“Among” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: surrounded by, or in the middle of, a group of people or things.
What is the difference between among and between?
Traditionally, between is used for two things and among for three or more — 'between you and me' but 'among the crowd.' The fuller rule is that between marks distinct, individual relationships, even with several items, while among treats things as an undivided group. Use among when you mean surrounded by a mass.
Is it 'among' or 'amongst'?
Both are correct and mean exactly the same thing. Amongst is more common in British English and can sound slightly more formal or literary, while among is the standard choice in American English and in most modern writing everywhere. You can use either; among is the safer, plainer option.
What is an example of 'among' in a sentence?
Among means surrounded by or in the middle of a group: 'she felt safe among her friends,' 'the ball rolled among the leaves.' It also expresses membership or distribution — 'he is among the best players' or 'the prize was shared among the winners.'
