between

A1 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

Also spelled atween

US /bəˈtwin/ UK /bɪˈtwiːn/ See IPA manual

Freq #460

Meanings

1

prep
In the space or time that separates two things.

John stood between Amy and Mary.
2

prep
Showing a choice involving two options.

You must choose between him and me.
3

prep
Shared by people working or acting together.

Between us all, we shall succeed.
4

adv
In the space or interval that separates things.

There were two houses with a tree in between.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

4 adv · in the space or interval... betwixt

More atweenatwixatwixtbetwixte

Word family

Derived forms between-maidbetween-stepbetween-subjectsbetween-timebetweenanebetweenhoodbetweenitybetweennessbetweenwhilesgo-betweenin-betweentail-between-one's-legs

Related forms among betwixt

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

decide between
to make a choice when comparing two or more options

Verb + preposition/particle

Idioms (3)

See all

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”) + *twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweoh (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin. More distantly related to Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through, across, by, over”) whence English dia- (“through, across, between”). For the meaning development also compar…

betwene Middle English betwēonum Old English *bi- Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Grammar & Function Words

External links

# between

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** prep, adv
**IPA (US):** /bəˈtwin/
**IPA (UK):** /bɪˈtwiːn/
**Frequency rank:** 460

## Meanings
1. In the space or time that separates two things.
2. Showing a choice involving two options.
3. Shared by people working or acting together.
4. In the space or interval that separates things.

## Examples
- John stood between Amy and Mary.
- You must choose between him and me.
- Between us all, we shall succeed.
- There were two houses with a tree in between.

## Synonyms
- atween
- atwix
- atwixt
- betwixt
- betwixte

## Derived Forms
- between-maid
- between-step
- between-subjects
- between-time
- betweenane
- betweenhood
- betweenity
- betweenness
- betweenwhiles
- go-between
- in-between
- tail-between-one's-legs

## Related Forms
- among
- betwixt

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: betwene
- Root: betwēonum
- Root: *bi-

## Etymology
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”) + *twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweoh (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin. More distantly related to Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through, across, by, over”) whence English dia- (“through, across, between”). For the meaning development also compar…

## AI Etymology
Between comes from Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum (“between, among”, dative plural, literally “by the two, near both”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- (“be-”) + *twīhnaz (“two each”), corresponding to be- + twain. Cognate with Scots between (“between”), Scots atween (“between”), Gothic 𐍄𐍅𐌴𐌹𐌷𐌽𐌰𐌹 (tweihnai, “two each”), Old English betweoh (“between”), Old English twinn (“double, twofold”). More at betwixt, twin. More distantly related to Ancient Greek διά (diá, “through, across, by, over”) whence English dia- (“through, across, between”).

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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