amid

¹ American  

[uh-mid] / əˈmɪd /

preposition

1. in the middle of; surrounded by; among.

   to stand weeping amid the ruins.

2. during; in or throughout the course of.

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amid- ² American  

1. variant of amido- before a vowel.

   amidase.

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amid British  

/ əˈmɪd /

preposition

1. in the middle of; among

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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-¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

The industry has faced a slowdown in 5G spending as some major customers completed initial rollouts of the technology while network operators have also been hesitant to invest amid an uncertain economic outlook.

From The Wall Street Journal

Thursday’s measured easing came as China’s recent sliding growth momentum stoked concerns around Beijing’s unwillingness to act more aggressively amid a yearslong property slump that has yet to bottom out.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, with exports likely to remain a strong growth driver this year amid expected tepid domestic demand, Citi economists said rate cuts might not happen soon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oracle saw its gauge for default risk hit a 16-year high late last year amid projections for higher capital expenditures and a new disclosure of an additional $248 billion in lease commitments, much of it likely from OpenAI.

From Barron's

The huge expense required to set up production in the U.S. has been a concern for some investors, particularly amid growing fears about overspending and the formation of an AI bubble.

From The Wall Street Journal