middle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of middlenext
1
as in mean
a middle point between extremes his salary is exactly at the middle of the company's pay scale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in midst
an area or point that is an equal distance from all points along an edge or outer surface put the serving dish in the middle of the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in waist
the middle region of the human torso clutched the football tightly against her middle

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in height
the most intense or characteristic phase of something I'm right in the middle of a tax audit, so can you come back later?

Synonyms & Similar Words

middle

2 of 2

adjective

ˈmi-dᵊl How to pronounce middle (audio)
1
as in halfway
occupying a position equally distant from the ends or extremes you must mark the exact middle point of each of these lines in order to solve the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in average
being about midway between extremes of amount or size a house that is middle-sized for that neighborhood a man of middle height

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of middle
Noun
Odds for a hike in October also fell in the middle of this week after the release of the personal consumption expenditures price index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, on Wednesday showed cooler-than-expected prices. — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 Juxtapositions of seemingly unlike topics (plants and gender, feral dogs and nuclear weapons) give way to Venn diagrams, with Johnson dwelling in their overlapping middles. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Florida International University is a massive public institution with a reputation for helping low- and middle-income students get ahead and the University of Miami is a selective private institution with a major medical research component. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026 Dona Maria is a straight-talking, middle-aged Black woman, whose videos criticizing the policies of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva amassed millions of views on social media earlier this year. — Constance Malleret, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for middle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for middle
  1. mean
  2. midst
  3. waist
  4. halfway
  5. average
  6. midpoint
  7. center
  8. mid
Noun
  • It’s been further modified by many factors, from today’s online publishing platforms to new means for assessing and quantifying scientific impact, and the increasingly interdisciplinary and team-based nature of research.
    — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The changes would eliminate the requirement for large commercial buildings to generate renewable energy on-site via rooftop solar or other means.
    — Tom Nyein, Baltimore Sun, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of mean
Noun
  • In some rooms, the tubs are in the midst of the living area, which cuts into modesty a bit.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Wellness Is Key Her team is also in the midst of evolving the wellness experience, through discovery, authenticity, wellness and personalized service, also supported by stronger storytelling and long-term brand evolution.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of midst
Noun
  • Within the collection itself, the brand’s signature Iris Jacket was revisited with new proportions via reshaping the shoulder, waist and hip for a more feminine look.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • These are reminiscent of wide-leg trousers, with contrasting top stitching down the fronts of the legs, a thick cuff, and cool metal hardware along the waist.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of waist
Adjective
  • The 24-year-old, like Gordon, who replaced him in the second half, offered energetic pressing, even sprinting from close to the halfway line to close down the goalkeeper at one point.
    — Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The 26-year-old information technology administrator consumed a Red Bull energy drink around the film's halfway mark to stay alert.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 25 July 2026
Definition of halfway
Adjective
  • The party has an average 8-point lead in generic congressional ballot polling, according to RealClearPolitics.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Her special talent was to make historic gardening techniques and designs accessible for the average gardener, championing the potager—which combines flowers with useful, edible plants—and creating gardens for Elton John and the then Prince of Wales.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of average
Noun
  • The midpoint of your career might seem like a time to chase promotions and higher earnings.
    — Maurie Backman, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The midpoint, typically 100 on both axes, represents neutral relative strength and momentum versus the benchmark.
    — Jay Woods, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of midpoint
Noun
  • For years, hospitals have been buying and building outpatient centers, and then funneling more care to them.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026
  • An institution built explicitly to neutralize biological catastrophes is now at the center of one.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of center
Adjective
  • Fans of modernist architecture will find much else to enjoy, too – not least in Ibirapuera Park, with its striking array of mid-century buildings by Oscar Niemeyer, including the pavilion that now houses the superb Museu Afro Brasil.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • His seeming lack of curiosity about what happened to Lee in San Francisco felt to me like the product of mid-century white America.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of mid

Phrases Containing middle

Browse Nearby Words

middens
middle
middle age
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Cite this Entry

“Middle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/middle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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