middle
Americanadjective
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equally distant from the extremes or outer limits; central.
the middle point of a line; the middle singer in a trio.
- Synonyms:
- midway, medial, halfway, equidistant
- Antonyms:
- extreme
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intermediate or intervening.
the middle distance.
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medium or average.
a man of middle size.
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(initial capital letter) (in the history of a language) intermediate between periods classified as Old and New or Modern.
Middle English.
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Grammar. (in some languages) noting a voice of verb inflection in which the subject is represented as acting on or for itself, in contrast to the active voice in which the subject acts, and the passive voice in which the subject is acted upon, as in Greek, egrapsámēn “I wrote for myself,” égrapsa “I wrote,” egráphēn “I was written.”
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(often initial capital letter) noting the division intermediate between the upper and lower divisions of a period, system, or the like.
the Middle Devonian.
noun
verb (used with or without object)
adjective
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equally distant from the ends or periphery of something; central
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intermediate in status, situation, etc
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located between the early and late parts of a series, time sequence, etc
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not extreme, esp in size; medium
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(esp in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) denoting a voice of verbs expressing reciprocal or reflexive action Compare active passive
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(usually capital) (of a language) intermediate between the earliest and the modern forms
Middle English
noun
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an area or point equal in distance from the ends or periphery or in time between the early and late parts
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an intermediate part or section, such as the waist
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grammar the middle voice
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logic See middle term
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the ground between rows of growing plants
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a discursive article in a journal, placed between the leading articles and the book reviews
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cricket a position on the batting creases in alignment with the middle stumps on which a batsman may take guard
verb
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to place in the middle
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nautical to fold in two
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football to return (the ball) from the wing to midfield
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cricket to hit (the ball) with the middle of the bat
Synonym Usage
Middle, center, midst indicate something from which two or more other things are (approximately or exactly) equally distant. Middle denotes, literally or figuratively, the point or part equidistant from or intermediate between extremes or limits in space or in time: the middle of a road. Center, a more precise word, is ordinarily applied to a point within circular, globular, or regular bodies, or wherever a similar exactness appears to exist: the center of the earth; it may also be used metaphorically (still suggesting the core of a sphere): center of interest. Midst usually suggests that a person or thing is closely surrounded or encompassed on all sides, especially by that which is thick or dense: the midst of a storm.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of middle
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English middel; cognate with German mittel; akin to Old Norse methal among. See mid 1
Explanation
The middle of something is its center, or the point where the two ends are the same distance away. If you're in the middle of a 26.2 mile marathon, you've reached the halfway mark, and you've run 13.1 miles. A middle part in your hair is in the center of your scalp, and the middle of a tennis court has a net for hitting the ball over. Middle also means "belly" or "abdomen," as in the middle part of a body, or "between an earlier and later time." Your middle name is usually the second of three names. If someone says, "Patience is my middle name," they mean that it's their most distinct or strong characteristic.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Dalai Lama's long-standing "Middle Way" policy seeks autonomy and a "resolution to the Sino-Tibet conflict through non-violence, dialog and mutual benefit".
From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026
Military strategist Mick Ryan says the world’s bad actors have formed a “new adversary learning and adaptation bloc” to socialize the lessons of warfare from Ukraine and the Middle East.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
The eurozone’s unemployment rate matched a record low in May, reflecting continued resilience despite elevated economic disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 2, 2026
“So far, markets seem to be paying little heed to the risk of a prolonged war in the Middle East.”
From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026
Well, I did like talking about tools that most people thought vanished with the Middle Ages.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
