between

[ bih-tween ]

preposition

1. in the space separating (two points, objects, etc.):

   between New York and Chicago.

2. intermediate to, in time, quantity, or degree:

   between twelve and one o'clock; between 50 and 60 apples;

   between pink and red.

3. linking; connecting:

   air service between cities.

4. in portions for each of (two people):

   splitting the profits between them.

5. among:

   sharing the responsibilities between the five of us.

6. by the dual or common action or participation of:

   Between us, we can finish the job in a couple of hours.

7. distinguishing one from the other:

   He couldn't see the difference between good and bad.

8. in comparing:

   no preference between the two wines.

9. by the combined effect of.
10. existing confidentially for:

    We'll keep this matter between the two of us.

11. involving; concerning:

    war between nations;

    choice between things.

12. being felt jointly or reciprocated by:

    the love between them.

13. by joint possession of:

    Between them they own most of this company.

14. Heraldry. in the midst of, so as to make a symmetrical composition:

    a cross argent between four bezants.

noun

1. Usually betweens. a short needle with a rounded eye and a sharp point, used for fine hand stitchery in heavy fabric.

adverb

1. in the intervening space or time; in an intermediate position or relation:

   two windows with a door between;

   visits that were far between.

between

/ bɪˈtwiːn /

preposition

1. at a point or in a region intermediate to two other points in space, times, degrees, etc
2. in combination; together

   between them, they saved enough money to buy a car

3. confined or restricted to

   between you and me

4. indicating a reciprocal relation or comparison

   an argument between a man and his wife

5. indicating two or more alternatives

   a choice between going now and staying all night

adverb

1. between one specified thing and another

   two houses with a garage between

Usage Note

Although not generally accepted as good usage, between you and I is heard occasionally in the speech of educated persons. By the traditional rules of grammar, when a pronoun is the object of a preposition, that pronoun should be in the objective case: between you and me; between her and them. The use of the nominative form ( I, he, she, they, etc.) arises partly as overcorrection, the reasoning being that if it is correct at the end of a sentence like It is I, it must also be correct at the end of the phrase between you and …. The choice of pronoun also owes something to the tendency for the final pronoun in a compound object to be in the nominative case after a verb: It was kind of you to invite my wife and I. This too is not generally regarded as good usage. The construction between each (or every ) is sometimes objected to on the grounds that between calls for a plural or compound object. However, the construction is old and fully standard when the sense indicates that more than one thing is meant: Spread softened butter between each layer of pastry. There were marigolds peeking between every row of vegetables. The construction between … to is a blend of between … and ( between 15 and 25 miles ) and from … to ( from 15 to 25 miles ). It occurs occasionally in informal speech but not in formal speech or writing.

Usage

After distribute and words with a similar meaning, among should be used rather than between : this enterprise issued shares which were distributed among its workers

Confusables Note

Among expresses a relationship when more than two persons or things are involved: Distrust spread among even his strongest supporters. Between is used when only two persons or things are involved: between you and me; to decide between tea and coffee. Between also continues to be used, as it has been throughout its entire history, to express a relationship of persons or things considered individually, no matter how many: Tossing up coins between three people always takes a little working out. Between holding public office, teaching, and writing, she has little free time.

Other Words From

• be·tweenness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of between¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English betwene, Old English betwēonan, betwēonum, equivalent to be- be- + twēon- (cognate with Gothic tweihn(ai) “two each”) + -um, dative plural ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of between¹

Old English betwēonum ; related to Gothic tweihnai two together; see two , twain

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. between ourselves, confidentially; in trust. Also between you and me, between you, me, and the postlamppostgatepostetc.
2. in between,
   1. situated in an intermediary area or on a line or imaginary line connecting two points, things, etc.
   2. in the way:

      I reached for the ball, but the dog got in between.

More idioms and phrases containing between

• betwixt and between
• come between
• draw a line between
• fall between the cracks
• few and far between
• hit between the eyes
• in between
• in between times
• read between the lines
• tail between one's legs

Example Sentences

Between 25 and 30, you’re trying to decide how much longer before you start growing a beard and calling yourself ‘Daddy.

From The Daily Beast

He has wild swings between trying not to care about Lana and the baby, and being completely obsessed by it.

From The Daily Beast

The choice between freedom and fear is not difficult when seen with perspective.

From The Daily Beast

Each individual race involves an unusual collaboration between researchers, manufacturers, and public-health entities.

From The Daily Beast

Are you bi-coastal now, between Portlandia and Late Night with Seth Meyers?

From The Daily Beast

In sorting notes it is necessary to be able readily to distinguish between notes of this bank and notes of other reserve banks.

From Project Gutenberg

The case was an assault and battery that came off between two men named Brown and Henderson.

From Project Gutenberg

He thrust his tiny tuft of beard between his teeth—a trick he had when perplexed or thoughtful.

From Project Gutenberg

To Harrison and his wife there was no distinction between the executive and judicial branches of the law.

From Project Gutenberg

He noticed at the same time several burnt matches between his cushions and her chair.

From Project Gutenberg