among

allocate something to someone or something and allocate something between someone or something; allocate something among someone or something

to give or assign something to someone or something. (Between with two, among with three or more.) The committee allocated the surplus cheese to the elderly people in the community. David allocated the money among all the members. He allocated the work between Fred and George. We had to allocate the money between the philanthropy and social committees.

browse among something 

1. [for an animal] to wander about among plants and trees, selecting and eating some. The deer were browsing among the vegetables in my garden. The cows were browsing among the grasses in the field.

2. [for someone] to look at or survey different items of reading material. I browsed among the books on the rack until I found what I wanted. I browsed among the books for something suitable.

See also: browse

choose among someone or something

to make a choice of a person or thing from a variety of possibilities. We will choose among the names on the list you gave us. I need to choose among the car models available.

See also: choose

circulate among someone or something

to move at random within a gathering of people or things. Karen circulated among the guests, serving drinks. The guests circulated among the various rooms in the house.

See also: circulate

count someone among something

to consider someone as a particular type of person or part of a particular group. I count her among my closest friends. Rachel counted herself among the luckiest people alive.

See also: count

decide among (someone and someone else) and decide among (something and something else)

to choose from three or more people; to choose from three or more things. I couldn't decide among all the choices on the menu. I will decide among Fred, Tom, and Alice.

See also: decide

include someone or something among something

to count someone or something as a member of a group or collection. I am happy to include you among my friends. Do you include chocolate among your favorite flavors?

See also: include

intersperse something among something

to place something among things at random. We interspersed a few chocolate dough nuts among all the plain ones. Some chocolate ones had been interspersed among the plain ones.

See also: intersperse

list someone or something among something

to include someone or something in a particular category. I list George among the all-time greats. I have to list the budget committee as the most efficient ever.

See also: list

live among someone

to live in a community with someone or a community made up of certain people. The anthropologist lived among the small tribe for two years. They lived among the Jivaro Indians for a brief period.

See also: live

number someone or something among something

to include someone or something in a group of something. I number her among my best friends. I number this product among the most popular developed during the past year.

See also: number

put someone or something among someone or something

to place someone or something in the midst of people or things. The martial arts instructor put Fred among the strongest students to see what he would do. The shopkeeper put the green pears among the ripe ones and tried to sell them.

See also: put

rank someone among something

to judge someone to be essentially equal to a specific group of people. I don't rank Kelly among the best drivers in the world. Our committee ranked Fred among the best of the current applicants.

See also: rank

rank among something

to be included in a particular group. In my opinion, Kelly ranks among the very best. Tom ranks among the most widely known of the contemporary writers.

See also: rank

rate someone or something among something

to judge someone or something to be essentially equal to something. I rate Polly among the best of this year's class. We rate these contestants among the best ever.

See also: rate

reckon someone or something among something

to judge someone or something to belong among a select group. I reckon Donna among the best tennis pros in the country. We reckon this automobile among the most advanced in the world.

See also: reckon

There is honor among thieves.

Prov. Criminals do not commit crimes against each other. The gangster was loyal to his associates and did not tell their names to the police, demonstrating that there is honor among thieves.

See also: honor, thief

work among someone or something

to do one's work among some people or things. I wanted to work among the Indians, but I set up my medical practice in the inner city. I want to get a job in forestry and work among the trees.

See also: work

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be first among equals

to officially be on the same level as other members in a group, but in fact have slightly more responsibility or be slightly more important The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff was always considered first among equals.

See also: equal, first

put/set the cat among the pigeons  (British & Australian)

to do or say something that causes trouble and makes a lot of people angry or worried Tell them all they've got to work on Saturday. That should set the cat among the pigeons.

See also: cat, pigeon, put

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first among equals (slightly formal)

the best or most important of a similar group The solo violin was first among equals in the midst of all the stringed instruments. Because she is the chairman of the committee, she is, of course, first among equals.

See also: equal, first