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among

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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WOTD – 21 January 2026

Etymology

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Etymology tree
Old English on
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm
Proto-Germanic *ga-
Proto-West Germanic *ga-
Old English ġe-
Old English mang
Old English ġemang
Old English onġemang
Old English amang
Middle English among
English among

    The preposition is derived from Middle English among, amang, amange, amonge (“in the presence of, amid, among; in, within; between; during”),[1] from Old English amang,[2] onġemang (preposition),[3] from on (“on, among, in”)[4] (probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en- (“on, onto”)) + ġemang (“crowd; mixture”, noun)[5][6] (from ġe- (prefix forming nouns denoting association or similarity) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“beside, by; near; with”)) + mang- (from mængan, mengan (“to mingle, mix”);[7] ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *menk- (“to knead; to press”))).[8] By surface analysis, a- (prefix meaning ‘at; in; on’) +‎ mong (“crowd, throng; group”).

    The adverb is derived from Middle English among, amang (“accompanied by, along with, by the side of, in association with, together; all the while, continually; also, besides; at the same time; from time to time, occasionally; meanwhile; within”),[9] from Old English onġemang (adverb):[3] see further above.

    cognates

    Pronunciation

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    Preposition

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    among

    1. Of a person or thing: in the midst of and surrounded by (other people or things).
      to put the cat among the pigeons
      1. Associated with or living alongside (other people or things).
        How can you speak with authority about their customs when you have never lived among them?
      2. Belonging to (a group comprising similar people or things).
        He is among the few who completely understand the subject.
        • 2013 August 10, “Can China clean up fast enough?”, in The Economist‎[1], volume 408, number 8848, London: The Economist Group, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 December 2025:
          All this has led to an explosion of protest across China, including among a middle class that has discovered nimbyism.
      3. Distinct in some way from (other members of a group); specifically, superior or pre-eminent compared to (other members of a group).
    2. Of an event or a fact.
      1. Originally, in the course of; during; now, in the circumstances or context of.
      2. Distributed or divided between (members of a group).
      3. Done jointly by (two or more people).
        • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, Much Adoe about Nothing. […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], signature H3, recto:
          [Y]ou haue among you, kild a ſvveet and innocent lady: […]
        • a. 1695 (date written), John Tillotson, “Sermon XII. The Nature and Necessity of Restitution. The First Sermon on this Text. Luke XIX. 8, 9.”, in Ralph Barker, editor, Several Discourses of Repentance. […], volume VIII, London: […] Ri[chard] Chiswell, […], published 1700, →OCLC, page 377:
          If the Injury vvas done by more, vvho did all equally concur to the doing of it, they are all equally bound to make Satisfaction; […] every one is not bound to ſatisfie for the vvhole, but pro ratâ parte, for his ſhare; provided they do among them make full Satisfaction.
      4. In the general custom or opinion of (members of a group).
        • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Luke 1:1 and 3–4, signature F, verso, column 1:
          Foraſmuch as many haue taken in hande to ſet foorth in order a declaration of thoſe things which are moſt ſurely beeleued among vs, […] It ſeemed good to me alſo, hauing had perfect vnderſtanding of things from the very firſt, to write vnto thee in order, moſt excellent Theophilus, That thou mighteſt know the certaintie of thoſe things wherein thou haſt bene inſtructed.
        • 1711 August 11 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “TUESDAY, July 31, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 131; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 192:
          Such is the variety of opinions which are here entertained of me, so that I pass among some for a disaffected person, and among others for a popish priest; among some for a wizard, and among others for a murderer; and all this for no other reason that I can imagine but because I do not hoot, and hollow, and make a noise.
          The spelling has been modernized.
      5. Occurring between (members of a group) or within (a group).
        Lactose intolerance is common among people of Asian heritage.
        • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, Jhon [John] x:[19], folio xlv, verso, column 2:
          Then was there diſcenſion amõge [amonge] the Jewes for theſe ſayenges.
        • 1535 October 14 (Gregorian calendar), Myles Coverdale, transl., Biblia: The Byble, […] (Coverdale Bible), [Cologne or Marburg]: [Eucharius Cervicornus and Johannes Soter?], →OCLC, I. Corinthians v:[1], folio lxxiij, verso, column 1:
          There goeth a commen reporte, that there is whordome amõge [amonge] you, and ſuch whordome, as is not once named amõge the Heythen, that one ſhulde haue his fathers wife.
        • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 114, column 2:
          […] I alvvayes thought / It vvas both impious and vnnaturall, / That ſuch immanity and bloody ſtrife / Should reigne among Profeſſors of one Faith.
        • 1711 June 1 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison], “MONDAY, May 21, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 70; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume I, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 425:
          [T]he dissensions of the barons, who were then so many petty princes, ran very high, whether they quarrelled among themselves, or with their neighbours, and produced unspeakable calamities to the country.
          The spelling has been modernized.

    Usage notes

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    • For a comparison of among with amidst and between, see the usage notes at the latter entries.
    • Many Americans view amongst as an archaic or Commonwealth variant, and use among exclusively.

    Alternative forms

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    Synonyms

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    Derived terms

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    Translations

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    Adverb

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    among (obsolete)

    1. Along with (someone or something); together.
      • 1602, William Warner, “The Eleventh Booke. Chapter LXI.”, in Albions England. A Continued Historie of the Same Kingdome, from the Originals of the First Inhabitants thereof: […], 5th edition, London: […] Edm[und] Bollifant for George Potter, […], →OCLC, page 271:
        Yeat interlace vve ſhall among the Loue of her and him: […]
      • 1631, [Ben Jonson], Chloridia. Rites to Chloris and Her Nymphs. […], London: […] Thomas Walkley, →OCLC, signature B2, verso:
        And of the ſame vvorke vvere their baſes, their head-'tires of flovvers, mix'd vvith ſiluer, and gold, vvith ſome ſprigs of Ægrets among, and from the top of their dreſſing, a thinne vayle hanging dovvne.
    2. At the same time, all the while, meanwhile.
    3. In addition, beside.
    4. Chiefly with contrasting adjectives or adverbs: from time to time, now and then; also, here and there.
      • 1625, [Samuel] Purchas, “A Ruter, or Briefe Direction for Readie Sayling into the East-India, Digested into a Plaine Method by Master Iohn Davis of Lime-house, vpon Experience of His Fiue Voyages thither, and Home againe”, in Purchas His Pilgrimes. […], 1st part, London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, 4th book, § II (A Note for Finding out of the Riuer of Saint Augustine in Saint Laurence, of Diuers Small Iles in the Way thence to Achen, and of Many Ports and Passages in and about Sumatra), page 450:
        [Y[our beſt vvay is, to direct your courſe Eaſt North-eaſt, and North-eaſt by Eaſt, among; […]

    See also

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    References

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    1. ^ “among(es, prep.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
    2. ^ Joseph Bosworth (1882), “a-mang, prep. c. dat.”, in T[homas] Northcote Toller, editor, An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 36, column 1.
    3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Joseph Bosworth (1882), “on-gemang, prep. with dat. and adv.”, in T[homas] Northcote Toller, editor, An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 752, column 1.
    4. ^ Joseph Bosworth (1882), “on, prep., adv.”, in T[homas] Northcote Toller, editor, An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 744, column 1.
    5. ^ T[homas] Northcote Toller (1921), “ge-mang”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary […]: Supplement, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, pages 367–368.
    6. ^ “among, prep. and adv.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2025; “among, prep.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
    7. ^ Joseph Bosworth (1882), “mengan”, in T[homas] Northcote Toller, editor, An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 678, column 1.
    8. ^ Compare “† ymong, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, July 2023.
    9. ^ “among(es, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

    Anagrams

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    Cebuano

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    Pronunciation

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    • Hyphenation: a‧mong

    Verb

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    among

    1. to be made or become a collateral damage
    2. to implicate; to connect or involve in an unfavorable or criminal way with something
    3. to drag in

    Central Bikol

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    Etymology

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    From amo +‎ -ng.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈʔamoŋ/ [ˈʔa.moŋ]
    • Hyphenation: a‧mong

    Noun

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    among (Basahan spelling ᜀᜋᜓᜅ᜔)

    1. alternative form of amo (“master; boss”)

    Ibatan

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    Etymology

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    Compare Yami among.

    Noun

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    among

    1. fish

    Indonesian

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    Etymology

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    (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.).

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    among

    1. jewelry in coronation of odonafi

    Further reading

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    Javanese

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    Romanization

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    among

    1. romanization of ꦲꦩꦺꦴꦁ

    Lubuagan Kalinga

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    Noun

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    among

    1. party; banquet

    Middle English

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    Alternative forms

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    Etymology

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    Etymology tree
    Old English on
    Proto-Indo-European *ḱe
    Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm
    Proto-Germanic *ga-
    Proto-West Germanic *ga-
    Old English ġe-
    Old English mang
    Old English ġemang
    Old English onġemang
    Old English amang
    Middle English among

      From Old English amang, onġemang, equivalent to a- +‎ mong.

      Pronunciation

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      Preposition

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      among

      1. among

      Adverb

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      among

      1. among

      Descendants

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      • English: among
      • Geordie: amang
      • Scots: amang
      • Yola: amang, mang (aphetic)

      References

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      Tagalog

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      Etymology

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      From amo +‎ -ng.

      Pronunciation

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      Noun

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      among (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜋᜓᜅ᜔) (colloquial)

      1. priest
        Synonym: pari
      2. boss; chief; master
        Synonym: amo

      See also

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      Further reading

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      • “among”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018

      Anagrams

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      Yami

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      Etymology

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      Compare Ibatan among.

      Noun

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      among

      1. fish
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