between
between
preposition
OPAL W OPAL S
/bɪˈtwiːn/
1 in or into the space separating two or more points, objects, people, etc.
Q comes between P and R in the English alphabet.
I sat down between Jo and Diana.
Switzerland lies between France, Germany, Austria and Italy.
The paper had fallen down between the desk and the wall.
(figurative) My job is somewhere between a secretary and a personal assistant.
2 in the period of time that separates two days, years, events, etc.
It's cheaper between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Don't eat between meals.
Children must attend school between the ages of 5 and 16.
Many changes took place between the two world wars.
3 at some point along a scale from one amount, weight, distance, etc. to another
It weighed between nine and ten kilos.
The temperature remained between 25°C and 30°C all week.
4 (of a line) separating one place from another
the border between Sweden and Norway
5 from one place to another
We fly between Rome and Paris twice daily.
6 used to show a connection or relationship
a difference/distinction/contrast between two things
a link between unemployment and crime
There's a lot of bad feeling between them.
I had to choose between the two jobs.
7 shared by two or more people or things
We ate a pizza between us.
This is just between you and me/between ourselves (= it is a secret).
People sometimes say ‘between you and I’ but this is wrong because the object pronoun me (or reflexive pronoun ourselves) is needed after the preposition between.
8 by putting together the efforts or actions of two or more people or groups
We ought to be able to manage it between us.
China and India between them account for a third of the world's population.
​9 between doing something used to show that several activities are involved
Between working full-time and taking care of the kids, he didn't have much time for hobbies.
between
adverb
/bɪˈtwiːn/
(usually in between)
​in the space or period of time separating two or more points, objects, etc. or two dates, events, etc.
The house was near a park but there was a road in between.
I see her most weekends but not very often in between.
Word Origin
Old English betwēonum, from be ‘by’ + a Germanic word related to two.