middle
Americanadjective
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equally distant from the extremes or outer limits; central.
the middle point of a line; the middle singer in a trio.
- Synonyms:
- midway, medial, halfway, equidistant
- Antonyms:
- extreme
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intermediate or intervening.
the middle distance.
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medium or average.
a man of middle size.
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(initial capital letter) (in the history of a language) intermediate between periods classified as Old and New or Modern.
Middle English.
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Grammar. (in some languages) noting a voice of verb inflection in which the subject is represented as acting on or for itself, in contrast to the active voice in which the subject acts, and the passive voice in which the subject is acted upon, as in Greek, egrapsámēn “I wrote for myself,” égrapsa “I wrote,” egráphēn “I was written.”
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(often initial capital letter) noting the division intermediate between the upper and lower divisions of a period, system, or the like.
the Middle Devonian.
noun
verb (used with or without object)
adjective
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equally distant from the ends or periphery of something; central
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intermediate in status, situation, etc
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located between the early and late parts of a series, time sequence, etc
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not extreme, esp in size; medium
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(esp in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) denoting a voice of verbs expressing reciprocal or reflexive action Compare active passive
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(usually capital) (of a language) intermediate between the earliest and the modern forms
Middle English
noun
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an area or point equal in distance from the ends or periphery or in time between the early and late parts
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an intermediate part or section, such as the waist
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grammar the middle voice
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logic See middle term
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the ground between rows of growing plants
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a discursive article in a journal, placed between the leading articles and the book reviews
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cricket a position on the batting creases in alignment with the middle stumps on which a batsman may take guard
verb
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to place in the middle
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nautical to fold in two
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football to return (the ball) from the wing to midfield
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cricket to hit (the ball) with the middle of the bat
Related Words
Middle, center, midst indicate something from which two or more other things are (approximately or exactly) equally distant. Middle denotes, literally or figuratively, the point or part equidistant from or intermediate between extremes or limits in space or in time: the middle of a road. Center, a more precise word, is ordinarily applied to a point within circular, globular, or regular bodies, or wherever a similar exactness appears to exist: the center of the earth; it may also be used metaphorically (still suggesting the core of a sphere): center of interest. Midst usually suggests that a person or thing is closely surrounded or encompassed on all sides, especially by that which is thick or dense: the midst of a storm.
Etymology
Origin of middle
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English middel; cognate with German mittel; akin to Old Norse methal among. See mid 1
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.
From the archives: Cars were once a financial engine of America’s middle class.
From MarketWatch
In the middle of the room, a group of neighbors who lived around the temple on Meguiar Drive sat together.
From Los Angeles Times
From the archives: Cars were once a financial engine of America’s middle class.
From MarketWatch
Louise, 15, is “afflicted by the plight of the middle child,” in that everyone ignores her even in the best of times.
A mariachi band played as she danced in the middle and reunited with longtime customers.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
