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.
Here, however, amid his other studies, Edward continued to take an illustration course, presaging the 20 years he would spend in commercial illustration, a job he despised.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The announcement came amid concerns about continued Santa Ana winds through Saturday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The final pre-fight formalities took place at Old Spitalfields Market in east London, with the two heavyweights taking to the scales amid the bustle of street-food stalls and shoppers.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Arista Networks CEO Jayshree Ullal sells $34.4 million in company stock amid a rally that pushes shares to record highs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The girls from Swanburne had been taken there on an outing and set loose in the maze; they raced this way and that, amid much delighted squealing.
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
