middle
MIHDL
Middle (noun) means the point or part equally distant from the edges, ends, or extremes of something. Example: “Put the vase in the middle of the table.”
noun
1
The point or part equally distant from the edges, ends, or extremes of something.
"Put the vase in the middle of the table."
"She woke up in the middle of the night."
"He stood in the middle of the road and waved us down."
2
Informal: a person's waist or midsection.
"He grabbed his middle after the workout, out of breath."
"After two weeks of rich food, my middle was starting to feel tight."
"She tied a scarf around her middle to keep warm."
adjective
1
Located halfway between two points; central.
"Take the middle road at the fork."
"I always sit in the middle seat because it has the best view."
"The middle book of the trilogy is my favourite."
How to use middle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe central point or part of something, whether a place, a time, or a story.
Common pairings
in the middle of
middle ground
middle of the road
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Word forms
- Plural
- middles
- Third person singular
- middles
- Past tense
- middled
- Superlative
- middlemost, middlest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Put the vase in the _____ of the table.
Etymology
From Old English middel, related to "mid" and ultimately to Latin medius — all sharing the ancient Indo-European root for "between" or "in the middle."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for middle
See all rhymes for middle →Frequently asked questions
What does “middle” mean?
The word “middle” means the point or part equally distant from the edges, ends, or extremes of something. In plain terms, the central point or part of something, whether a place, a time, or a story.
How do you pronounce “middle”?
“Middle” is pronounced MIHDL (/ˈmɪdl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “middle” in a sentence?
Here is “middle” used in a sentence: “Put the vase in the middle of the table.”
What is another word for “middle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “middle” include center and midpoint.
What part of speech is “middle”?
Depending on how it is used, “middle” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “middle” come from?
The word “middle” comes from Latin. From Old English middel, related to "mid" and ultimately to Latin medius — all sharing the ancient Indo-European root for "between" or "in the middle.".
Is “middle” a common word?
“Middle” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “middle” have?
“Middle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the point or part equally distant from the edges, ends, or extremes of something.
What is the difference between the middle and the centre?
The two overlap, but centre is more precise. A centre is an exact point equidistant from all edges, especially of a circle or sphere. The middle is looser — a general area between the ends or sides, not necessarily an exact point. You stand in the middle of a room, but at the centre of a circle.
What is the difference between middle and average?
The middle is a position — the part lying between the extremes of something physical or in a sequence. An average is a calculated figure, usually found by adding values and dividing by how many there are. In statistics the 'middle' value is the median. So middle is about place or order, average about arithmetic.
What is the opposite of middle?
The middle has several opposites depending on context. For a line or object, the opposites are the ends, edges, or sides. For extremes, the middle contrasts with the top and bottom, or the beginning and end. In every case, the middle is the central part and its opposites lie at the outer limits.
What is an example of middle in a sentence?
You might say 'She sat in the middle of the row', meaning between the two ends, or 'We stopped in the middle of the journey', meaning halfway through. It can describe space or time. The word points to the central part, equally far from the edges or from the start and finish.
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