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amidst
[ uh-midst ]
Word History and Origins
Example Sentences
Rust depicts the manhunt for grandfather and grandson amidst a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and tumbleweed dirt towns.
Amidst this chaos and as millions crossed borders, religious violence spread with Hindus and Sikhs on one side, and Muslims on the other.
The tech billionaire’s declaration that “these judges need to go,” splashed across all of Italy's front pages, came amidst increasing tension between Italy’s ruling coalition and the judiciary after a panel of Rome magistrates questioned the legality of a government initiative to detain asylum-seekers in Albania.
Wragg also concedes that amidst the intoxication of possible romance he felt "a sense of wanting to please" ‘Charlie’.
The earliest on the program, “Jefferson and Liberty” from 1800, included the verse: “Here strangers from thousand shores/Compell’d by tyranny to roam;/Shall find, amidst abundant stores,/A nobler and a happier home.”
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Amidst Vs. Amid
What’s the difference between amidst and amid?
Amidst and amid mean the same thing: in the middle of or during.
This can apply to spaces (as in I found my keys amidst/amid all of my other stuff) or situations (as in It was hard to concentrate amidst/amid all the chaos).
Amid is the older and original form of the word. The -st ending (which is the same one found in other words like whilst and against) does not change the meaning. The same thing applies to among and amongst (which can mean the same thing as amid and amidst).
Contrary to popular misconceptions, amidst is not the British English version of amid. Although amidst and amid are completely interchangeable, amid is more commonly used.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between amidst and amid, including how amidst got that -st.
Quiz yourself on amidst vs. amid!
True or False?
Amidst should only be used in very formal contexts.
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