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amidst
[ uh-midst ]
Word History and Origins
Example Sentences
The tame white whale, which locals named Hvaldimir, made headlines five years ago amidst widespread speculation that it was a Russian spy.
US-China relations were often rocky during Trump's first term, amidst trade disputes and the Covid pandemic.
Prince William also began his trip to South Africa amidst reports questioning the transparency of the royal family’s finances and income.
Amidst the shock and trauma in Valencia, the outpouring of solidarity is growing by the day.
Amidst the autumnal farmland, the soldiers are keen to demonstrate the American kit they use - drones, grenade launchers and mounted machine guns.
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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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