amidst

[uh-midst]

preposition

1. amid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of amidst¹

1250–1300; Middle English amiddes; amid, -s ¹; for -t against, amongst, etc.

Example Sentences

Unlike earlier photographs of political activity in India, these are not posed-for images: they capture violent confrontations with police, wounded volunteers loaded onto ambulances, boisterous marches amidst monsoonal downpours, and endless streams of protesting men and women through Bombay's Indo-Gothic streetscape.

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“It is a convenient label for a loose and sometimes fractious group of generals and senior government officials that thrives amidst Venezuela’s endemic corruption,” Gunson said.

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Deep in the forest, high in the mountains—amidst the evergreens, the firs, the spruces—sits a giant panda.

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Included are gun shields, a rare type of firearm consisting of a wooden shield with a small gun fixed in the middle, and small cast-iron weapons known as “hailshot pieces,” to this date found only amidst the remains of the Mary Rose.

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“Among the recent deals, perhaps the clearest example of this is Intel, where the government’s intervention appears intended to ensure there will continue to be an indigenous leading-edge semiconductor manufacturer amidst fierce foreign competition.”

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When To Use

What’s the difference between amidst and amid?

Amidst and amid mean the same thing: in the middle of or during.This can apply to spaces (as in I found my keys amidst/amid all of my other stuff) or situations (as in It was hard to concentrate amidst/amid 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 amidst and amid are completely interchangeable, amid is more commonly used.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between amidst and amid, including how amidst got that -st.