Amid

Amid is a preposition used to indicate being in the middle of something or surrounded by circumstances. It can describe physical surroundings as in amid the ruins or abstract conditions as in amid growing concerns. The word emphasizes the surrounding context rather than a simple spatial relation to individuals.

Etymology: From Middle English amid(e), from Old English a midd(e) 'in the middle'. The form has parallels in other Germanic languages; the modern form is typically spelled amid in American and British English, though amidst is a longer variant common in British usage and in literary style.

Usage: Typically followed by a noun phrase: amid the crowd, amid delays, amid intense heat. It can occur in sentences where the central subject is described by the environment around it: She remained calm amid the chaos. In many cases, amid is preferred where the surrounding conditions are central to the meaning; for distribution among people, among or in the midst of may be preferred.

Variants and style: Amidst is a near synonym; the difference is largely stylistic: amid is more common in contemporary prose, government, journalism; amidst carries a slightly more archaic or literary tone. Some editors treat them as interchangeable.

See also: amidst; among; between.