51Թ

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View synonyms for

between

[ bih-tween ]

preposition

  1. in the space separating (two points, objects, etc.):

    between New York and Chicago.

  2. intermediate to, in time, quantity, or degree:

    between twelve and one o'clock; between 50 and 60 apples;

    between pink and red.

  3. linking; connecting:

    air service between cities.

  4. in portions for each of (two people):

    splitting the profits between them.

  5. among:

    sharing the responsibilities between the five of us.

  6. by the dual or common action or participation of:

    Between us, we can finish the job in a couple of hours.

  7. distinguishing one from the other:

    He couldn't see the difference between good and bad.

  8. in comparing:

    no preference between the two wines.

  9. by the combined effect of.
  10. existing confidentially for:

    We'll keep this matter between the two of us.

  11. involving; concerning:

    war between nations;

    choice between things.

  12. being felt jointly or reciprocated by:

    the love between them.

  13. by joint possession of:

    Between them they own most of this company.

  14. Heraldry. in the midst of, so as to make a symmetrical composition:

    a cross argent between four bezants.



noun

  1. Usually betweens. a short needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for fine hand stitchery in heavy fabric.

adverb

  1. in the intervening space or time; in an intermediate position or relation:

    two windows with a door between;

    visits that were far between.

between

/ ɪˈٷɾː /

preposition

  1. at a point or in a region intermediate to two other points in space, times, degrees, etc
  2. in combination; together

    between them, they saved enough money to buy a car

  3. confined or restricted to

    between you and me

  4. indicating a reciprocal relation or comparison

    an argument between a man and his wife

  5. indicating two or more alternatives

    a choice between going now and staying all night

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. between one specified thing and another

    two houses with a garage between

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage Note

Although not generally accepted as good usage, between you and I is heard occasionally in the speech of educated persons. By the traditional rules of grammar, when a pronoun is the object of a preposition, that pronoun should be in the objective case: between you and me; between her and them. The use of the nominative form ( I, he, she, they, etc.) arises partly as overcorrection, the reasoning being that if it is correct at the end of a sentence like It is I, it must also be correct at the end of the phrase between you and …. The choice of pronoun also owes something to the tendency for the final pronoun in a compound object to be in the nominative case after a verb: It was kind of you to invite my wife and I. This too is not generally regarded as good usage. The construction between each (or every ) is sometimes objected to on the grounds that between calls for a plural or compound object. However, the construction is old and fully standard when the sense indicates that more than one thing is meant: Spread softened butter between each layer of pastry. There were marigolds peeking between every row of vegetables. The construction between to is a blend of between and ( between 15 and 25 miles ) and from to ( from 15 to 25 miles ). It occurs occasionally in informal speech but not in formal speech or writing.
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Usage

After distribute and words with a similar meaning, among should be used rather than between : this enterprise issued shares which were distributed among its workers
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Confusables Note

Among expresses a relationship when more than two persons or things are involved: Distrust spread among even his strongest supporters. Between is used when only two persons or things are involved: between you and me; to decide between tea and coffee. Between also continues to be used, as it has been throughout its entire history, to express a relationship of persons or things considered individually, no matter how many: Tossing up coins between three people always takes a little working out. Between holding public office, teaching, and writing, she has little free time.
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ·ٷɱn noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of between1

First recorded before 900; Middle English betwene, Old English betwēonan, ٷŧDzԳܳ, equivalent to be- be- + ٷŧDz- (cognate with Gothic tweihn(ai) “two each”) + -um, dative plural ending
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of between1

Old English ٷŧDzԳܳ ; related to Gothic tweihnai two together; see two , twain
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Idioms and Phrases

  1. between ourselves, confidentially; in trust. Also between you and me, between you, me, and the postlamppostgatepostetc.
  2. in between,
    1. situated in an intermediary area or on a line or imaginary line connecting two points, things, etc.
    2. in the way:

      I reached for the ball, but the dog got in between.

More idioms and phrases containing between

  • betwixt and between
  • come between
  • draw a line between
  • fall between the cracks
  • few and far between
  • hit between the eyes
  • in between
  • in between times
  • read between the lines
  • tail between one's legs
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"We are limited in what we can say legally, but what we can advise is the incident is not gang-related or linked to any wider dispute between groups."

From

Those plans, to impose tariffs of between 10% and 50% on almost every country, have upended global trade and led to warnings that prices could soon rise for American consumers.

From

He added that he would "purposely play up the rivalry between Tom's character and mine off screen" as well as on.

From

There, the production found the ideal house, which belongs to a retired pilot who divides his time between the forest and the country’s bustling capital.

From

The humor comes from star Hauser, who easily occupies the liminal space between comedy and drama.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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