between

alternative archaic betweene · alternative archaic betwene · alternative abbreviation b/w · alternative abbreviation btwn · alternative abbreviation btw

1. In the position or interval that separates (two things), or intermediate in quantity or degree. (See Usage notes below.)

   I want to buy one that costs somewhere between forty and fifty dollars.

   5 more examples

   John stood between Amy and Mary.    Let’s meet between two and three.

   The prince is here at hand, pleaſeth your Lordſhip / To meet his grace iuſt diſtance tvveene our armies.

   [c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], signature G2, recto

   Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

   1892, Walter Besant, “Prologue: Who is Edmund Gray?”, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC

   Energy has seldom been found where we need it when we want it. Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame.

   2013 July-August, Henry Petroski, “Geothermal Energy”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4

   Accounts with between fifty thousand and two hundred thousand followers are considered “microinfluencers,” and tend to have higher engagement rates—that is, a larger share of their followers like, favorite, or comment on their posts—than those with millions of followers.

   2017 April 17, Rachel Monroe, “#Vanlife, the Bohemian Social-Media Movement”, in The New Yorker, archived from the original on 04 Aug 2017

2. Done together or reciprocally.

   conversation between friends

   1 more example

   She mixed furniture with the same fatal profligacy as she mixed drinks, and this outrageous contact between things which were intended by Nature to be kept poles apart gave her an inexpressible thrill.

   1935, George Goodchild, chapter 1, in Death on the Centre Court

3. Shared in confidence.

   Between you and me, I think the boss is crazy.  Let's keep this between ourselves.

4. In transit from (one to the other, or connecting places).

   He's between jobs right now.  The shuttle runs between the town and the airport.

   1 more example

   [If] you don’t want to flip the channels between Biden and Trump, join [the] live chat, [which is covering] both town halls.

   2020, Lisa Lerer, “This Is Not the Debate We Wanted”, in The New York Times

5. Combined (by effort or ownership).

   Between us all, we shall succeed.  We've only got £5 between us.

   1 more example

   Between the leaky taps and the peeling wallpaper, there isn't much about this house to appeal to a buyer.

6. One of (representing a choice).

   You must choose between him and me.

   1 more example

   Some colour-blind people can't distinguish between red and green.

7. Taking together the combined effect of.

   Between the food and the card games, this proved to be the best birthday party I have ever had.

plural betweens · alternative archaic betweene · alternative archaic betwene · alternative abbreviation b/w · alternative abbreviation btwn · alternative abbreviation btw

1. A kind of needle, shorter than a sharp, with a small rounded eye, used for making fine stitches on heavy fabrics.