Among: Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：in the middle of (among)

among 🔊

/əˈmʌŋ/

prep.

It means being in the middle of or surrounded by several things or people.

Among people in a garden, surrounded by group

in the middle of 🔊

➕

/ɪn ðə ˈmɪdəl əv/

prep.

Being in the midst of or surrounded by multiple people or things.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'on gemang' (in the crowd), from 'mengan' (to mix).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'a mong' as 'a monkey in a group' – you are among them.

📖 Example

Among all the students in her class, Li Hua is known for her helpful nature. 🔊 Among all the students in her class, Li Hua is known for her helpful nature.

🔗 Collocations

among friends – in the company of close companions

among the crowd – within a large group of people

among others – including other similar things or people

🔄 Synonyms

amidst (prep.) – In the middle of or surrounded by; often used in literary contexts

amongst (prep.) – Variant of among, common in British English

in the midst of (phrase) – Surrounded by or in the middle of a situation or group

🚫 Antonyms

outside (prep.) – Not within or surrounded by a group or area

beyond (prep.) – On the far side of; not included within

separate from (phrase) – Not part of or associated with a group

📖 Cultural Story

Among derives from Proto-Germanic *mangjan 'to mix', reflecting the idea of being in a mixed group. Old English gemang meant a crowd or throng.