Amid
/əˈmɪd/
prepositionB1
Definition
"Amid" is a preposition that shows something is happening in the middle of or during a particular situation or environment. It often describes being surrounded by things or events, especially when these are important or cause strong feelings.
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⚡ See It in Action
In the middle of or surrounded by physical things
- •She was standing amid the tall trees in the forest.
- •The house is amid green fields and flowers.
- •The statue stood amid the busy square.
During a situation or event, often with strong feelings or problems
- •Amid the noise, he tried to concentrate on his work.
- •The country remained calm amid the political crisis.
- •Amid the confusion, she found a way to help everyone.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "amid" like "in" or "among," but it often shows something happening during a situation or event, not just physical place
- ✓Picture standing in the middle of a busy crowd or in the middle of a storm—this is "amid" the crowd or "amid" the storm
- ✓It's the feeling when you are surrounded by noise or activity and still doing something important
- ✓Sounds like "a-MID" → imagine you are in the "mid" (middle) of something big or busy
- ✓Think of a story where a character stays calm amid chaos, like a hero in the middle of a battle or a busy city
- ✓NOT like "beside" (next to something), "amid" means right inside or during something
- ✓NOT like "after" or "before," "amid" means happening at the same time as something else
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Among: in the middle of or with a group of people or things (Use when talking about physical presence in a group)
- •In the middle of: exactly inside something (Use for physical places or clear situations)
- •During: at the same time as an event or action (Use when focusing on time or events)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "a-" (a form of "in" or "on") + "mid" (middle)
- •Etymology: From Old English "on middan," meaning "in the middle"
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to show being in the middle of something, both physically and in time or events
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in writing and speech to describe something happening inside or during a situation, often with a serious or important tone
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you stayed calm amid a difficult situation? What helped you?
•How does using "amid" change the feeling or importance of a sentence compared to just saying "in" or "during"?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She stayed calm amid the ___ and noise of the busy city streets.
2.The small village was hidden amid the ___ hills and forests.
3.Amid the ___ of the meeting, he quietly took notes.
4.The team worked hard amid ___ challenges and problems.
5.Amid the celebration, everyone forgot about the earlier ___.
6.The flowers grew amid the ___ of the abandoned garden.
7.Amid the storm, the boat managed to ___ safely to shore.