Among | Definition, Part of Speech & Examples
The preposition among can indicate a location “surrounded by” other people or things or refer to inclusion in a particular group or category.
We lost sight of him among the crowd.
She’s among the best young tennis players in the country.
He’s very well-liked among customers.
Among meaning
The word among can mean “in a specific group.”
Paula was among the students who went on the trip.
Among can also mean “in or through a location surrounded by other people or things.”
I found it among some old papers.
He spent the afternoon walking among the ancient, winding streets.
We often use among with superlative adjectives to express that someone or something is “one of” the best/worst etc.
The results were among the worst of all the participating companies.
He’s among the most underrated players in the league.
Is among a preposition?
Among is a preposition that can refer to a particular category or group (e.g., “The policy is popular among voters”) or a location that is “surrounded by” something else (e.g., “I found it among all that junk in the attic”).
What part of speech is among?
The part of speech of the word among is a preposition meaning “in a specific category or group” (e.g., “It’s among my favorite films”) or “in the middle of” (e.g., “Can you see the bird hiding among the branches?”).
Frequently asked question about among
- What does among others mean?
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“Among others” is a phrase that is used to indicate that not all items or individuals of a larger group are being specifically mentioned (e.g., “There were many teachers, counselors, and students, among others”).
“Among other things” can also be used in the same manner (e.g., “We studied science, math, and art, among other things”).
QuillBot’s Paraphraser tool can help you vary your vocabulary and writing style to reflect your meaning.
- Is it among others or amongst others?
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Both “among others” and “amongst others” are acceptable, but it should be noted that “among” is the more popular variant in both American and British English. In American English, “amongst” can be considered overly formal or even pompous.
Our AI Rewriter can help you rewrite texts to express your meaning.
- Is it okay to use amongst?
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Yes, it is acceptable to use the word “amongst,” especially when using British English. However, because it is less common in American English, some may consider it out of place or overly formal.
QuillBot can help you automatically rewrite texts to express your meaning.
- What are synonyms for among?
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Among has a few (near) synonyms, such as:
- In the company of
- Surrounded by
- In the middle of
- Amid
You can find other synonyms for “among” with our paraphraser tool.
