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between

between

3 1.0
In the time separating two events
  • adverb
  • /bɪˈtwin/
translation icon : entre
  • The meeting is scheduled to take place between 2 PM and 4 PM.
  • between $168 billion
  • between $150 million
  • estimated to cost between

Examples

  • Municipalities will realize annual cost savings of between $775 million and $1.2 billion, according to the analysis.

    Blog text (13)
  • Regarding the duration of sickness, 37 children were ill for less than six months, 49 were ill for between six to 12 months, and 14 were ill for more than 14 months.

    Academic text (2008)
  • What changed between last week and this week?

  • Is there a difference for you between before you were born?

  • What do you want to make happen in your life between now and October?

  • It's getting kind of crazy between now and Election Day.

  • Are you looking back and forth between making a decision?

  • What happens if we change the timing between those two sounds?

  • In the U.S., it's estimated that there are between 35 thousand and 50 thousand people affected with Huntington's disease.

  • The surgery can cost between 1 million and 5 million won ($1,200-$6,200).

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

betwixt
vsbetween
  • Archaic
9.9

Between two things or during the time between two events

is the neutral modern preposition rather than archaic usage
therebetween
vsbetween
  • Archaic
9.9

In the space between things mentioned

is the general modern form not restricted to things already mentioned

Idioms

47 4.2

Saying this when you tell someone something you want kept secret

24 4.1

To understand what someone means without them saying it directly

19 5.5

Very rare and not happening often

A difficult situation where you have no good choice

8 3.4

Without work for a short time while looking for a job

Not get noticed or dealt with

You must choose between two options that are both bad

You must choose between two dangerous options

9.5

To stay within safe limits, especially when driving

between the ears
  • Informal
8.6

A way to talk about a person's mind and confidence

To have to choose between two equally bad options while people on both sides pressure you

A hard situation where no choice seems good

Fail to reach either goal because you try to do both

To stay within safe limits and avoid getting into trouble

A pleasant person placed between two less pleasant people

Compounds

116 4.0

In the middle between two other things, neither the start nor the end

11 4.9

A person who passes messages and helps two people or groups agree

Tension between people or groups that causes disagreement

The difference in how much money and comfort rich and poor people have

between decks
  • Specialized
1 8.6

In the space below the main deck and above the lower deck on a ship

A war in the United States from 1861 to 1865 between northern and southern states

Surface Forms

between positive

Etymology

Between comes from old parts be- (meaning 'by' or 'near') and a root for 'two', like in twin and 'two'. So it once meant 'by two' or 'in the gap joining two moments', which is why between is used for time or events that lie between two moments.