amongst

IPA/əˈmʌŋ/
KK[əmˈʌŋst]IPA/əˈmʌŋ/

amongst — 介系詞

1. in a place where things or people are all around you on different sides

1.介系詞B2
釋義

在⋯之中

被許多事物從四周圍繞著

in a place where things or people are all around you on different sides

例句

Kofi found the lost key amongst the dead leaves under the bench.

Kofi 在長椅下的枯葉之中找到了遺失的鑰匙。

amongst + plural noun for being surrounded

A small wooden cabin stood quietly amongst the tall pine trees.

一間小木屋靜靜地佇立在高大的松樹之中。

同義詞
  • among

    the standard, more common spelling; same meaning

  • amid

    also formal; works with both countable and uncountable surroundings

文法句型

amongst + plural noun

用法筆記

Subject or object is usually a physical scene of many surrounding objects. 'Amongst' is the more formal, mainly British form of 'among'; both carry the same meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The cabin stood amongst a forest.
✅The cabin stood amongst the trees.
💡use 'amongst' with countable things you picture as many separate items, not a single mass noun.

2. belonging to a set, or counted as one member within it

2.介系詞B2
釋義

在⋯當中

屬於某群人或事物的其中之一

belonging to a set, or counted as one member within it

例句

Élise was amongst the first nurses to volunteer for the night shift.

Élise 是最早自願值夜班的護理師之一。

be amongst the first/best/few for ranking within a group

Anger spread quickly amongst the workers after the factory closed.

工廠關閉後，憤怒的情緒在工人當中迅速蔓延。

feeling/event spreading amongst a group of people

同義詞
  • among

    standard spelling; identical meaning and use

  • of

    in fixed phrases like 'one of the best', narrower than 'amongst'

文法句型

amongst + plural/collective noun

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here the meaning is membership of a set, not physical surroundings. Often follows 'be / count / number / rank' and pairs with 'the first', 'the best', or 'the few'.

常見錯誤

❌She was amongst the best student.
✅She was amongst the best students.
💡'amongst' needs a plural or group noun because it points to one of several.

3. giving a separate part of something to each member when three or more share it

3.介系詞B2
釋義

分給；分攤

把東西分給三人以上的每個人

giving a separate part of something to each member when three or more share it

例句

Yael divided the birthday cake equally amongst the six hungry children.

Yael 把生日蛋糕平均分給六個飢餓的孩子。

divide/share + object + amongst + group

The old farmer split his land amongst his four grown-up sons.

老農夫把土地分給了他四個成年的兒子。

同義詞
  • among

    standard spelling; same distributive meaning

  • between

    used when there are only two receivers, not three or more

文法句型

divide/share + amongst + plural noun

用法筆記

Only used when there are three or more receivers; with exactly two, use 'between'. Typically follows verbs of distribution like 'divide', 'share', 'split', 'spread'.

常見錯誤

❌She split the money amongst her two sisters.
✅She split the money between her two sisters.
💡use 'between' for two, 'amongst' for three or more.

4. used to name one or two items from a longer list that is not fully given

4.介系詞B2
釋義

其中包括

從未完整列出的清單中舉出一兩項

used to name one or two items from a longer list that is not fully given

例句

The report blamed poor training, amongst other things, for the accident.

報告把這起意外歸咎於訓練不足等多項原因。

amongst other things signalling an incomplete list

Lauren studies history, geography, and music, amongst other subjects.

Lauren 修讀歷史、地理和音樂等多門科目。

同義詞
  • among

    standard spelling; 'among other things' is the common form

  • including

    introduces examples directly rather than trailing a list

文法句型

amongst other things

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'amongst other things' (or 'amongst others'), signalling that the list shown is only a sample. Distinguish from sense 2: here it flags an unstated remainder, not membership.

5. between the members of one group only, with no outsiders taking part

5.介系詞B2
釋義

彼此之間

只在同一群人內部進行，外人不參與

between the members of one group only, with no outsiders taking part

例句

The players argued amongst themselves about who should take the penalty.

球員們彼此爭論該由誰來罰這個球。

amongst + themselves for action kept within the group

Let us settle this quietly amongst ourselves before the manager arrives.

在經理來之前，我們先私下把這件事悄悄解決吧。

amongst ourselves for keeping a matter private

同義詞
  • among

    standard spelling; 'among themselves' is the usual form

文法句型

amongst + reflexive pronoun (themselves/ourselves)

用法筆記

Almost always followed by a reflexive pronoun ('themselves', 'ourselves', 'yourselves') and stresses that the action stays inside the group. Distinguish from sense 3: this is about who takes part, not about dividing something up.

常見錯誤

❌The two of them argued amongst themselves.
✅The two of them argued with each other.
💡'amongst themselves' needs a group of three or more.