between

American  

[bih-tween] / bɪˈtwin /

preposition

1. in the space separating (two points, objects, etc.).

   between New York and Chicago.

2. intermediate to, in time, quantity, or degree.

   between twelve and one o'clock; between 50 and 60 apples;

   between pink and red.

3. linking; connecting.

   air service between cities.

4. in portions for each of (two people).

   splitting the profits between them.

5. among.

   sharing the responsibilities between the five of us.

6. by the dual or common action or participation of.

   Between us, we can finish the job in a couple of hours.

7. distinguishing one from the other.

   He couldn't see the difference between good and bad.

8. in comparing.

   no preference between the two wines.

9. by the combined effect of.

10. existing confidentially for.

    We'll keep this matter between the two of us.

11. involving; concerning.

    war between nations;

    choice between things.

12. being felt jointly or reciprocated by.

    the love between them.

13. by joint possession of.

    Between them they own most of this company.

14. Heraldry. in the midst of, so as to make a symmetrical composition.

    a cross argent between four bezants.

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noun

1. Usually betweens. a short needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for fine hand stitchery in heavy fabric.

adverb

1. in the intervening space or time; in an intermediate position or relation.

   two windows with a door between;

   visits that were far between.

idioms

1. in between,

   1. situated in an intermediary area or on a line or imaginary line connecting two points, things, etc.

   2. in the way.

      I reached for the ball, but the dog got in between.

2. between ourselves, confidentially; in trust. Also between you and me, between you, me, and the postlamppostgatepostetc.

between British  

/ bɪˈtwiːn /

preposition

1. at a point or in a region intermediate to two other points in space, times, degrees, etc

2. in combination; together

   between them, they saved enough money to buy a car

3. confined or restricted to

   between you and me

4. indicating a reciprocal relation or comparison

   an argument between a man and his wife

5. indicating two or more alternatives

   a choice between going now and staying all night

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adverb

1. between one specified thing and another

   two houses with a garage between

between More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing between

• betwixt and between
• come between
• draw a line between
• fall between the cracks
• few and far between
• hit between the eyes
• in between
• in between times
• read between the lines
• tail between one's legs

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Usage

Although not generally accepted as good usage, between you and I is heard occasionally in the speech of educated persons. By the traditional rules of grammar, when a pronoun is the object of a preposition, that pronoun should be in the objective case: between you and me; between her and them. The use of the nominative form ( I, he, she, they, etc.) arises partly as overcorrection, the reasoning being that if it is correct at the end of a sentence like It is I, it must also be correct at the end of the phrase between you and …. The choice of pronoun also owes something to the tendency for the final pronoun in a compound object to be in the nominative case after a verb: It was kind of you to invite my wife and I. This too is not generally regarded as good usage. The construction between each (or every ) is sometimes objected to on the grounds that between calls for a plural or compound object. However, the construction is old and fully standard when the sense indicates that more than one thing is meant: Spread softened butter between each layer of pastry. There were marigolds peeking between every row of vegetables. The construction between … to is a blend of between … and ( between 15 and 25 miles ) and from … to ( from 15 to 25 miles ). It occurs occasionally in informal speech but not in formal speech or writing.

After distribute and words with a similar meaning, among should be used rather than between : this enterprise issued shares which were distributed among its workers

Commonly Confused

Among expresses a relationship when more than two persons or things are involved: Distrust spread among even his strongest supporters. Between is used when only two persons or things are involved: between you and me; to decide between tea and coffee. Between also continues to be used, as it has been throughout its entire history, to express a relationship of persons or things considered individually, no matter how many: Tossing up coins between three people always takes a little working out. Between holding public office, teaching, and writing, she has little free time.

Other Word Forms

• betweenness noun

Etymology

Origin of between

First recorded before 900; Middle English betwene, Old English betwēonan, betwēonum, equivalent to be- be- + twēon- (cognate with Gothic tweihn(ai) “two each”) + -um, dative plural ending

Explanation

To be between two things is to be in the middle. In a picture, if you are between your sisters, one is on your left and the other is on your right. The preposition between comes from the Old English word betweonum, meaning “among,” or “by turns.” If you are between jobs, you are not at your old job anymore and you haven’t yet found a new one — you are in the middle of your transition to something new, just as if you live between two feuding neighbors, you might feel caught in the middle. If you are stuck between a rock and a hard place, you are in some kind of trouble.

Example Sentences

It expects 3% to 5% organic sales growth in 2026, with an adjusted Ebitda margin improvement of between 40 basis points and 60 basis points.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart not to resume attacks on Iran in a phone call between the two leaders Wednesday, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Other emails were jocular personal exchanges between colleagues and friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

When Texas dedicated $22 million to host the 2017 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, state officials expected a return on their investment.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

I plant my feet far apart, knees bent, and stand like a ninja trying to hold my balance between the three cans of paint we just bought and Dad’s Rubbermaid tub of painting supplies.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam