midst

in (one's) midst

In, among, or around a particular group of people. I never would have thought we'd have a famous celebrity in our midst in this small town!

See also: midst

in the midst of (something)

1. While something else is happening. And in the midst of Thanksgiving dinner, our power went out! So the rest of the night was spent by candlelight.

2. In the middle of a particular place. I can't believe there's a botanical garden in the midst of all these rundown houses.

See also: midst, of

in the middle of

1. Also, in the midst of. During, while engaged in, as in He stopped him in the middle of his speech, or I'm in the midst of calculating my income tax. The first expression dates from about 1600, the second from about 1500. Also see in the midst.

2. in the middle of nowhere. In a very remote location, as in We found a great little hotel, out in the middle of nowhere. [Early 1900s]

See also: middle, of

in the midst

1. Also, in one's midst. Surrounded by, among, as in I saw a familiar face in the midst of the crowd, or To think there was a Nobel Prize winner in our midst! [c. 1500s]

2. See in the middle of, def. 1.

See also: midst

in our, their, its, etc. ˈmidst

(formal) among or with us, them, etc: There is a traitor in our midst.

See also: midst

in the ˈmidst of something/of doing something

while something is happening or being done; while you are doing something: a country in the midst of a recession ♢ She discovered it in the midst of sorting out her father’s things.

See also: midst, of, something