amid
preposition
in the middle of; surrounded by; among.
amid
1 American
[uh-mid]
/ əˈmɪd /
preposition
-
in the middle of; surrounded by; among.
to stand weeping amid the ruins.
-
during; in or throughout the course of.
amid-
2
American
amid
British
/ əˈmɪd /
preposition
Usage
What’s the difference between amid and amidst? Amid and amidst mean the same thing: in the middle of or during. This can apply to spaces (as in I found my keys amid/amidst all of my other stuff) or situations (as in It was hard to concentrate amid/amidst all the chaos). Amid is the older and original form of the word. The -st ending (which is the same one found in other words like whilst and against) does not change the meaning. The same thing applies to among and amongst (which can mean the same thing as amid and amidst). Contrary to popular misconceptions, amidst is not the British English version of amid. Although amid and amidst are completely interchangeable, amid is more commonly used. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between amid and amidst, including how amidst got that -st.
Etymology
Origin of amid1
before 1000; Middle English amidde, Old English amiddan, for on middan “in (the) middle.” See a- 1, mid 1
Origin of amid-2
First recorded in 1870–75
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 downsizing comes amid a particularly challenging stretch for film and TV productions in California.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
Brazil's finance minister is shunning the gathering amid tensions with the Trump administration.
From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026
A third season has already been green-lit, amid rumors that Meghan Markle might join the cast.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
The apparent decision to reject EU talks comes more than a decade after Reykjavík walked away from earlier negotiations with the bloc amid disagreements over control of the country’s fishing industry.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026
Real tears were blurring her vision, and it was impossible to see where one rope started and another ended amid the complicated array of knots and loops.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
