What does among mean?
"Among" is one of the most frequently used prepositions in English, denoting position or participation within a group. At its simplest, it means being in the company of others — among friends, among strangers — or physically situated within a collection of things, as leaves scattered among the grass. It also expresses distribution, as when costs are shared among several people, and inclusion, as when someone is counted among the greats of their field. Traditionally, style guides reserved "among" for three or more entities, directing writers to use "between" for two, though this rule is applied loosely in contemporary usage. A variant form, "amongst", persists chiefly in British English and formal contexts but means exactly the same thing. The word descends from Old English through Middle English, originally tied to the notion of a mingling crowd, which gives it a quietly ancient pedigree. Versatile and unobtrusive, "among" is essential for expressing belonging, sharing, and placement within groups of any kind.
prepositionSurrounded by or in the company of; situated or included within a group of people or things.
- In the company or presence of others; surrounded by (people).
- Situated within or surrounded by (things); included in a group or set.
- Distributed or shared out to members of a group (e.g. divided among them).
- Indicating membership or inclusion within a class or category (e.g. ranked among the greatest).
"She felt at ease among her old friends."
"The children played happily among the wildflowers."
"The prize money was split equally among the three finalists."
"Among" is one of the few English words that still wears its Old English ancestry openly — it began as "gemonge", meaning a mingled crowd, before being squeezed into the compact form we use today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of among
"Among" derives from Old English "gemong", meaning a mingling or throng of people, formed from the Germanic root that also gave rise to "mingle" and, distantly, words like "monger". In Middle English the phrase "amonge" developed from the older compound, and by early modern times it had settled into its current single-word form. Its variant "amongst" arose from the same source and remains common in British English. The underlying root connects it to other Germanic terms denoting mixture and gathering rather than to Latin or Greek vocabulary.
How among is actually used
"Among" is used when referring to three or more people or things; for two, "between" is traditionally preferred, though modern usage often blurs this distinction. The variant "amongst" survives mainly in British English and formal writing. The word carries no strong register — it is equally at home in everyday speech and literary prose.
Easily confused with among
"Amongst" is a variant spelling of the same word, now chiefly British and slightly more formal, while "among" is the standard form in American English and the more common form overall.