ENGLISH
REFERENCE

amidst

prep.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //əˈmɪdst// UK //ɐmˈɪdst// amidst

prep. in the middle of something, often a crowd or a situation. You use it to show where someone is surrounded by other things or people.

prep. in the middle of; surrounded by. Often used to describe being in the midst of a situation, event, or group of people.


SIMPLE

She stood amidst the crowd of fans.

CONTEXTUAL

The small village remained calm amidst the chaos of the nearby city protests.

COMPLEX

Amidst the growing uncertainty of the global economy, investors sought stability in traditional assets rather than speculative ventures.

Origin

From amids + -t (excrescent), from amid + -s (genitive). By surface analysis, amid + -st (excrescent). Root amid from Middle English amidde, amiddes, on midden, from Old English on middan (“in the middle”), from midd (“central”) (English mid).

Usage

Typically followed by a noun phrase indicating the surrounding context or environment.

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