among
Americanpreposition
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in, into, or through the midst of; in association or connection with; surrounded by.
He was among friends.
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in the midst of, so as to influence.
missionary work among the local people.
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with a share for each of.
Divide the cigars among you.
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in the number, class, or group of; of or out of.
That is among the things we must do.
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by all or with the whole of; by most or with many of.
popular among the people.
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by the joint or reciprocal action of.
Settle it among yourselves.
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each with the other; mutually.
They quarreled among themselves.
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familiar to or characteristic of.
a proverb among the Spanish.
preposition
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in the midst of
he lived among the Indians
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to each of
divide the reward among yourselves
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in the group, class, or number of
ranked among the greatest writers
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taken out of (a group)
he is only one among many
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with one another within a group; by the joint action of
a lot of gossip among the women employees
decide it among yourselves
Commonly Confused
See between.
Etymology
Origin of among
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
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.
The toilet debate is just as live among educators as it is among young people.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
And despite an initial backlash among Venezuelans, fervor for the former leader of the leftist political movement known as Chavismo has died down.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
America’s first officially sanctioned World’s Fair, the Centennial International Exhibition, arrived when the country was still defining its place among industrial nations.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026
Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in the United States.
From Science Daily • May 16, 2026
Just as it was getting dark, the Fox sisters settled themselves at the parlor table among the other guests, joined hands, prayed, and waited for the spirits.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
Definitions 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.
