Between Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈbɪt.wɪn/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Pronoun

Definition

A region or interval separating two points, extremes, or limits; intermediate space.

Examples

• The distance between the two cities is 200 miles.
• The time between now and midnight is three hours.

Etymology

The word “Between” comes from Old English “betwēn” and Germanic “twin” meaning “two” and “n” meaning “not”.

Usage Notes

Use “Between” to describe a spatial or temporal separation, but be aware that it can be replaced by “Among” or “Amongst” in some contexts.

Cultural References

“Between” has appeared in several notable songs and poems, including Eminem’s “Between the Sheets” and T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land”.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• To be between a rock and a hard place
• To take sides between two parties

Related Words or Phrases

• Apart
• Closer

Collocations

• Between you and me
• Between the lines

Frequency of Use

“Between” is a common word in modern language, with an estimated frequency of 1.34 per 1000 words.

Common Misspellings

• Beetween
• Bettween