Between: meaning, definitions and examples

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between

 

[ bɪˈtwiːn ]

Preposition / Adverb / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Preposition

two things or people

In the position or interval that separates (two things or people)

Synonyms

amidst, among, in the middle of

Examples of usage

  • She stood between Jeff and me
  • There's a fine line between genius and madness
Context #2 | Adverb

time

At some point during (a period of time)

Synonyms

during, in the middle of

Examples of usage

  • Between 6 and 7, he'll be on his way
  • She has to leave between 5 and 6
Context #3 | Adjective

two options

Being in the intermediate position or in an intermediate state

Synonyms

in the middle, intermediate, midway

Examples of usage

  • He couldn't decide between the two options
  • She was torn between staying and leaving

Translations

Translations of the word "between" in other languages:

🇵🇹 entre

🇮🇳 के बीच

🇩🇪 zwischen

🇮🇩 di antara

🇺🇦 між

🇵🇱 między

🇯🇵 

🇫🇷 entre

🇪🇸 entre

🇹🇷 arasında

🇰🇷 사이에

🇸🇦 بين

🇨🇿 mezi

🇸🇰 medzi

🇨🇳 之间

🇸🇮 med

🇮🇸 á milli

🇰🇿 арасында

🇬🇪 შორის

🇦🇿 arasında

🇲🇽 entre

Etymology

The word 'between' originated from Middle English 'bitwene', which comes from Old English 'betweonum'. It is a combination of 'be-' (by) and 'twēonum' (two). The use of 'between' has evolved over time to convey the idea of something or someone being in an intermediate position or interval separating two things or people.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #52, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.