among

among

---

Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling:

• /əˈmʌŋ/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)

• a - /ə/ (schwa, unstressed, as in "about")

• mong - /mʌŋ/ (as in "Mutt" + "sing")

---

 Word Form Variations

Among" primarily functions as a preposition. It does not have singular/plural forms, tense inflections, or other variations common to nouns, verbs, or adjectives.

• Preposition: among

• Note: While "amongst" is a variant, it's not a different word form but rather an older or more formal/literary alternative with the same core meaning.

---

---

Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Preposition

1. Surrounded by; in the midst of; in association or company with. (Referring to a group of people or things)

• Example: "She sat among her friends."

• Synonyms: amidst, surrounded by, in the middle of, between (when referring to more than two, though "between" is often used for two), surrounded by

• Antonyms: separate from, outside, apart from, away from, alone (in context)

2. Being a member or one of a specified group.

• Example: "He is considered one of the best writers among his peers."

• Synonyms: included in, part of, within, in the group of

• Antonyms: excluded from, outside of, not part of

3. To be distributed or shared by.

• Example: "The inheritance was divided among the children."

• Synonyms: by, to, shared by, distributed to

• Antonyms: kept by (singular), monopolized by

4. Used when specifying a selection or choice from a group.

• Example: "She chose the red dress among the many options."

• Synonyms: from, out of, among the choices of

• Antonyms: (None directly applicable as it indicates selection)

---

Examples of Use

• Books:

• "He became a legend among his people." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, 1937)

• Newspapers:

• "Concerns about rising inflation are growing among small business owners, according to a recent survey." (The Wall Street Journal)

• Online Publications:

• "The debate over artificial intelligence ethics continues to rage among leading tech innovators and ethicists." (Wired.com)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "There's an impostor among us." (Popular phrase from the video game Among Us)

• "The band's new album quickly rose to popularity among their dedicated fanbase." (Music review on Pitchfork)

• "This documentary explores the unique traditions found among isolated communities in the Amazon." (Narration in a Netflix documentary, Our Planet)

• General Public Discourse:

• "She shared the candies equally among all the children."

• "He's the tallest among his siblings."

• "There was a sense of excitement among the crowd as the concert began."

• "Trust is a rare commodity among politicians."

---

---

10 Quotes Using Among

1. "Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." (Epicurus)

2. "My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing." (Aldous Huxley)

3. "Shoot for the moon and if you miss you will still be among the stars." (Les Brown)

4. "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone." (Jesus Christ, John 8:7)

5. "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." (United States Declaration of Independence, 1776)

6. "There is no king who has not had a slave among his ancestors, and no slave who has not had a king among his." (Helen Keller)

7. "I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." (Maya Angelou)

8. "If you live among wolves you have to act like a wolf." (Nikita Khrushchev)

9. "Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh." (W. H. Auden)

10. "We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't." (Frank A. Clark)

---

Etymology

The word "among" is a very old and useful word for talking about being surrounded by or part of a group.

It comes from the Old English word "onmang" or "gemang." This Old English term was a combination of:

• "on": meaning "in" or "into."

• "mang" / "gemang": which meant "a mixture," "a crowd," or "a company" (of people). This part is related to the word "mingle."

So, literally, "onmang" meant "in a crowd" or "in a mixture."

The first known use of "among" in English (in its Old English forms) dates back to before the 12th century. Its original meaning was consistent with being in the middle of a group or a collection of things, or being distributed within that group. Over centuries, the "on-" part became absorbed, leading to our modern "among." The variant "amongst" is just an older form of the same word.

---

---

Phrases + Idioms Containing Among

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "among":

• Among other things (in addition to items not specifically mentioned)

• Amongst friends (in a private or informal setting)

• Divide among (to share or distribute between more than two)

• Count among (to include in a specified group)

• Foremost among (most important or prominent in a group)

• Lost among the trees (original, similar to "can't see the forest for the trees")

• Among the ranks of (a member of a particular group or category)

• Whisper among yourselves (to speak quietly within a group)

• The best among us (the most skilled or virtuous person in a group)

• To be in good company (using a synonym, referring to being among respected people)

---

Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

---

Source Information

Definition of among from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

---