among
uh-MUHNG
Among (prep) means Surrounded by, or in the middle of, a group of people or things. Example: “She felt safe among old friends.”
prep
1
Surrounded by, or in the middle of, a group of people or things.
"She felt safe among old friends."
"The cabin was hidden among the trees."
"A small bakery stood among the tall buildings of the old town."
2
Shared between, or distributed to, the members of a group.
"The prize money was split among the five winners."
"The sweets were shared among all the children at the party."
"Please divide the work among yourselves so everyone has a fair share."
3
Being one of a particular group, especially a notable one.
"She is among the best violinists of her generation."
"Among the guests at the wedding was my old headteacher."
"This village is among the oldest settlements in the whole county."
How to use among
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSurrounded by, shared between, or counted as one of a group.
Common mistake
Traditionally "among" is used for three or more things, and "between" for exactly two — though this rule is loosening in everyday speech.
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She felt safe _____ old friends.
Etymology
From Old English onġemang, formed from "on" plus "ġemang" ("crowd, mixture") — literally "in the crowd of".
Synonyms
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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.'
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