between

Meanings

1. 1
   prep

   In the space or time that separates two things.

   John stood between Amy and Mary.

2. 2
   prep

   Showing a choice involving two options.

   You must choose between him and me.

3. 3
   prep

   Shared by people working or acting together.

   Between us all, we shall succeed.

4. 4
   adv

   In the space or interval that separates things.

   There were two houses with a tree in between.

Common collocations

• decide between Verb + preposition/particle

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…

Topics