among

[uh-muhng]

preposition

1. in, into, or through the midst of; in association or connection with; surrounded by.

   He was among friends.

2. in the midst of, so as to influence.

   missionary work among the local people.

3. with a share for each of.

   Divide the cigars among you.

4. in the number, class, or group of; of or out of.

   That is among the things we must do.

5. by all or with the whole of; by most or with many of.

   popular among the people.

6. by the joint or reciprocal action of.

   Settle it among yourselves.

7. each with the other; mutually.

   They quarreled among themselves.

8. familiar to or characteristic of.

   a proverb among the Spanish.

among

/ əˈmʌŋ /

preposition

1. in the midst of

   he lived among the Indians

2. to each of

   divide the reward among yourselves

3. in the group, class, or number of

   ranked among the greatest writers

4. taken out of (a group)

   he is only one among many

5. with one another within a group; by the joint action of

   a lot of gossip among the women employees

   decide it among yourselves

Confusables Note

See between.

Word History and Origins

Origin of among¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English amang, onmang for on gemang, on gemonge (dative singular of gemong “crowd,” akin to mengan “to mix”) “in (the) group (of)”; akin to mingle

Word History and Origins

Origin of among¹

Old English amang, contracted from on gemang in the group of, from _on + gemang crowd; see _mingle , _mongrel

Example Sentences

Those were among the visceral reactions this week from Emily Blunt, Whoopi Goldberg, Natasha Lyonne and many other actors and filmmakers over the sudden fame of Tilly Norwood.

From Los Angeles Times

Marvel didn’t try to venture much deeper, although “Black Panther” and “Captain Marvel” are among the rare exceptions.

From Salon

Four Oscar nominations, a massive Netflix deal and a co-writing credit on one of the biggest films of the century alongside his wife, Greta Gerwig, Baumbach has graduated from earnest indie filmmaker to Hollywood power player — as revered among Criterion collectors as he is casual moviegoers.

From Salon

Murphy will be among the executive procucers, although the BBC declined to say whether any characters from the previous era would return on screen.

From BBC

She was among the 36 dead, with the emergency services saying that the death toll could rise as some of the injured, numbering about 200, were in a critical condition.

From BBC