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midstream

American  
[mid-streem] / ˈmɪdˈstrim /

noun

  1. the middle of a stream.

  2. the middle period of a process, course, or the like.


midstream British  
/ ˈmɪdˌstriːm /

noun

  1. the middle of a stream or river

  2. the middle of a process or action

    they tried to change the rules in midstream

"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

adverb

  1. in or towards the middle of a stream or river

    moored midstream

"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
midstream Idioms  
  1. see change horses midstream.


Etymology

Origin of midstream

First recorded in 1275–1325, midstream is from the Middle English word myddstreme. See mid-, stream

Vocabulary lists containing midstream

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.

See Examples For:

It is also a live demonstration of Dixon’s argument: When the rules change midstream, confusion does not merely accompany the process.

From Slate Aug. 14, 2026

Expand’s integration strategy could become even more costly if the company is able to add midstream assets, they add.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 28, 2026

U.S. commercial stocks are held everywhere — in pipelines, in refineries, and in tanks belonging to midstream companies and exploration and production companies.

From MarketWatch Jun. 6, 2026

A brief history: The midstream sector, tied to the shale boom of the early 2000s, enjoyed fast growth as pipelines were built, but many companies took on too much debt.

From Barron's Jun. 5, 2026

On reaching midstream, the ghost coon headed downriver with Little Ann still on his tail.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

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