midst¹

[midst]

See more synonyms for midst on Thesaurus.com

noun

the position of anything surrounded by other things or parts, or occurring in the middle of a period of time, course of action, etc. (usually preceded by the): a familiar face in the midst of the crowd; in the midst of the performance.
the middle point, part, or stage (usually preceded by the): We arrived in the midst of a storm.

Idioms

in our/your/their midst, in the midst of or among us (you, them): To think there was a spy in our midst!

Origin of midst¹

1350–1400; Middle English, equivalent to middes (aphetic variant of amiddes amidst) + excrescent -t

Can be confusedmidst missed mist

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1, 2. thick, core, heart. See middle.

Antonyms

1, 2. edge, periphery.

midst²

[midst]

preposition

amidst.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for midst

Contemporary Examples

In the midst of this religious and political turmoil, drug trafficking thrives.
The Dangerous Drug-Funded Secret War Between Iran and Pakistan
Umar Farooq
December 29, 2014
In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots
Emily Shire
December 26, 2014
In their midst stands a soldier with the Lebanese armed forces in a red beret, sporting an assault rifle and an unblinking stare.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda
Ruth Michaelson
December 26, 2014
In the midst of “literally” shutting down the offices, Kroll talked to The Daily Beast about the final season.
The Zany Shades of Nick Kroll
Abby Haglage
December 15, 2014
One would be in the midst of a lot of actors, and besides, they're really only good for impressing shopgirls.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days
David Freeman
December 13, 2014

Historical Examples

There is a green meadow in the midst, on which rests a broad belt of sunshine.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
In the midst of the barrier stood an altar, on the top of which was a brazen eagle.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
In the midst of this generosity, the services of Geta and Milza were not forgotten.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
The Marquis had naturally expected to find him in the midst of pomp.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327
Various
There was no reasoning which could help him in the midst of that puzzle.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand

British Dictionary definitions for midst

midst¹

noun

in the midst of surrounded or enveloped by; at a point during, esp a climactic one
in our midst among us
archaic the centre

Word Origin

C14: back formation from amiddes amid

midst²

preposition

poetic See amid

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for midst

n.

c.1400, from Middle English middes (mid-14c.), from mid + adverbial genitive -s. The parasitic -t is perhaps on model of superlatives (cf. against).

midst.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}midst1

Synonyms

Antonyms

midst2

Related Words

Examples from the Web for midst

Contemporary Examples

In the midst of this religious and political turmoil, drug trafficking thrives.

In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.

In their midst stands a soldier with the Lebanese armed forces in a red beret, sporting an assault rifle and an unblinking stare.

In the midst of “literally” shutting down the offices, Kroll talked to The Daily Beast about the final season.

One would be in the midst of a lot of actors, and besides, they're really only good for impressing shopgirls.

Historical Examples

There is a green meadow in the midst, on which rests a broad belt of sunshine.

In the midst of the barrier stood an altar, on the top of which was a brazen eagle.

In the midst of this generosity, the services of Geta and Milza were not forgotten.

The Marquis had naturally expected to find him in the midst of pomp.

There was no reasoning which could help him in the midst of that puzzle.

midst1

Word Origin

midst2

Word Origin and History for midst

n.

midst¹

Origin of midst¹

midst²

midst¹

midst²