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

   decide it among yourselves

   a lot of gossip among the women employees

Usage

See between

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

Certainly, she seems to command near-total devotion among her clients.

From The Daily Beast

In the last year, her fusion exercise class has attracted a cult following and become de rigueur among the celebrity set.

From The Daily Beast

Who among Scalise's constituents could possibly care if he supported naming a post office for a black judge who died in 1988?

From The Daily Beast

One topic that comes up among the members, she says, is dealing with loss years later.

From The Daily Beast

He finished second in 2008 behind John McCain, and maintains a reservoir of good will among Republican social conservatives.

From The Daily Beast

Among the Perpendicular additions to the church last named may be noted a very beautiful oaken rood-screen.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Woodbury paints in oils and water-colors; the latter are genre scenes, and among them are several Dutch subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

At this moment an extraordinary commotion began among the watches.

From Project Gutenberg

His zeal led him among foreigners as a missionary; after visiting Bohemia, he went among the Poles, by whom he was killed.

From Project Gutenberg

Botanists have enumerated between forty and fifty varieties of the tobacco plant who class them all among the narcotic poisons.

From Project Gutenberg