among

American  

[uh-muhng] / əˈmʌŋ /

preposition

1. in, into, or through the midst of; in association or connection with; surrounded by.

   He was among friends.

2. in the midst of, so as to influence.

   missionary work among the local people.

3. with a share for each of.

   Divide the cigars among you.

4. in the number, class, or group of; of or out of.

   That is among the things we must do.

5. by all or with the whole of; by most or with many of.

   popular among the people.

6. by the joint or reciprocal action of.

   Settle it among yourselves.

7. each with the other; mutually.

   They quarreled among themselves.

8. familiar to or characteristic of.

   a proverb among the Spanish.

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among British  

/ əˈmʌŋ /

preposition

1. in the midst of

   he lived among the Indians

2. to each of

   divide the reward among yourselves

3. in the group, class, or number of

   ranked among the greatest writers

4. taken out of (a group)

   he is only one among many

5. with one another within a group; by the joint action of

   a lot of gossip among the women employees

   decide it among yourselves

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Commonly Confused

See between.

Etymology

Origin of among

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English amang, onmang for on gemang, on gemonge (dative singular of gemong “crowd,” akin to mengan “to mix”) “in (the) group (of)”; akin to mingle

Example Sentences

Among oil traders and diplomats, there was optimism.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

Among the most common topics audiences report hearing about are fitness, weight loss, mental health and supplements.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

Among those who disembarked was a 69-year-old Dutch woman who left the cruise at St Helena on 24 April, and travelled to South Africa, where she died two days later.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Among those helping prepare victims for burial was Kazem Pourzahedian, a fabric merchant in Minab who for 10 years has volunteered at a local mortuary to perform the ritual washing of the dead.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Among the marchers were students and older folks, parents and children, carrying backpacks, bedrolls and lunch bags.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman