amid
preposition
in the middle of; surrounded by; among.
Showing results for amid.
Search instead for
amides.
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.
Like governments and political parties, churches have struggled to retain public confidence amid scandals and broken promises, prompting many people to practice religion on their own terms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Plus, good severance can make for good publicity and repair a company’s reputation amid layoffs.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
The former Renault chief, who took over last year, is grappling with industry-wide pressure amid weaker demand from China and worries about consumer spending across the global economy.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
The decision to shelve the programme was announced shortly after the latest series began airing, with the BBC saying it was facing "very difficult choices" amid "significant financial pressures".
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Ropes and pulleys and electric lights were lashed amid the rafters.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
