Among means being in the midst of or surrounded by a group, typically used to indicate inclusion within a set or circle. It conveys spatial or figurative proximity, often implying consideration within a larger context rather than the outer edges. In usage, it marks relationships inside a collection, not the exterior boundary, and is commonly paired with prepositions or pronouns. 2-4 sentences.
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"She stood among the trees, listening to the birds."
"There was tension among the teammates after the game."
"Among the options, the blue shirt was the most striking."
"Whom did you speak with among the staff?"
Among derives from the Old English word on gemang, formed from on (in, at) and gemang (mixture, crowd, group). The sense evolved from “being within a mess/mixture” to “being within a group or set” over the centuries. In Middle English, on gemang appears in writings that describe inclusion in a crowd. The modern spelling consolidated in early Early Modern English, with gemang reducing to mang as pronunciation shifted. The term has cognates in several Germanic languages, reflecting a common Indo-European root related to “togetherness” and “mixture.” In historical texts, among appears frequently in social and legal contexts, often distinguishing inner members of a body from outsiders. First known uses appear in writings from the 9th to 12th centuries, with the current form solidified by the 15th century, aligning closely with the modern prepositional use that marks inclusion within a group or context.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "among" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "among" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "among"
-ang sounds
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The standard pronunciation is /əˈmʌŋ/ in US/UK, with stress on the second syllable. Break it into /ə/ (schwa) + /ˈmʌŋ/ (rhymes with “hung”). Start with a relaxed, neutral first syllable, then deliver a crisp, single-stressed /mʌŋ/. For many speakers, the /ə/ is quickly reduced in connected speech, but keep the /m/ and /ʌ/ clear to avoid confusion with “amongst.” IPA guidance: US/UK /əˈmʌŋ/; quick tip: ensure the mouth opens for /ʌ/ without rounding, then close with a clear nasal /ŋ/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., /ˈæmɔŋ/), substituting /æ/ for /ə/ in the first syllable, and misarticulating the final nasal as /n/. To correct: keep the schwa in the first syllable /ə/ and place primary stress on the second syllable /ˈmʌŋ/. Make sure the final sound is the velar nasal /ŋ/ not an /n/ or an /ŋk/ cluster. Practice by isolating /ə/ and /mʌŋ/ and then blend smoothly.
US/UK share /əˈmʌŋ/ with minor variations: US may have a slightly tighter /ə/ and a crisper /mʌŋ/, UK often preserves a classic short /ʌ/ with less vowel reduction in careful speech. Australian accents can show a slightly more centralized vowel in /ɜː/ or /ə/ depending on region, but most speakers still use /əˈmɔːŋ/ or /əˈmæŋ/ variations before /ŋ/. Overall, the rhyme and rhythm remain, but vowel quality and stress can shift subtly by locale.
The difficulty lies in the quick transition from an unstressed schwa to a full vowel in /mʌŋ/ and maintaining a clean velar nasal /ŋ/ at word end. Some speakers blur the first syllable to /əm/ or reduce it too much, losing the essential /ə/ cue. Others overpronounce the /æ/ or insert an /n/ after /m/. Focus on releasing /m/ cleanly into /ʌ/ and then smoothly glide into /ŋ/ without adding extraneous consonants.
Among has no hard /g/ sound. The term ends with a velar nasal /ŋ/ as in “sing.” There is no /g/ or /ŋk/ cluster. A common slip is pronouncing a brief /g/ sound after /m/, especially in careful speech, but natural pronunciation keeps it silent. Visualize finishing with your tongue tip touching the alveolar ridge for /n/ and then lowering into the velar nasal /ŋ/.
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