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middle
/ˈmɪdəl/
central part or position
She stood in the middle of the room.
She was positioned centrally in the room.
general
The central part or point of something
The middle of the book was the most exciting part.
The central section of the book contained the most thrilling events.
He sat in the middle of the bench.
He positioned himself centrally on the bench.
Can refer to physical space, time, or abstract concepts.
informal
Of average quality or ability
He's a middle player on the team.
He performs at an average level compared to others on the team.
Often used to describe something that is neither the best nor the worst.
general
The period between youth and old age
She's in the middle of her career.
She is at the midpoint of her professional life.
Refers to the middle age of life, typically between 40 and 60 years old.
Collocations
in the middleat the central pointmiddle classsocial group between the rich and the poormiddle schooleducational stage between elementary and high school
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Usage
The word 'middle' is often used with prepositions like 'in', 'of', or 'to' to describe central positions or periods.
Gold Rule
Positional Meaning
'Middle' primarily refers to a central position, whether in space, time, or rank.
Word Origin
From Old English 'middel', from Proto-Germanic 'midjaz', meaning 'middle'. Related to Old Norse 'miðr' and Old High German 'mittil'.
Usage Notes
Can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Often used with prepositions like 'in', 'of', or 'to'.
Word Breakdown
mid
center
root-dle
suffix indicating position
suffixEnglish Dictionary