either
5 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of EITHER
1
:
one and the other of two
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Flowers bloomed on either side [=on both sides] of the walk.
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Either [=each] answer is correct. [=both answers are correct]
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I don't like either book. [=I like neither book]
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French and English are closer to each other than either language is to Chinese.
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I haven't written to either parent. [=I haven't written to the mother or the father]
2
:
one or the other of two
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You may take either road.
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You may choose either answer.
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Either way/option is all right with me.
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It's all right with me either way. = I don't mind either way. = Either way, I don't mind. [=both possibilities are okay to me]
2
either
/ˈiːðɚ/
Brit
/ˈaɪðə/
pronoun
2
either
/ˈiːðɚ/
Brit
/ˈaɪðə/
pronoun
Britannica Dictionary definition of EITHER
:
the one or the other
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Either (of the two answers) is correct. [=both answers are correct]
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I don't think that either of the two answers is correct. = Of the two answers, I don't think that either is correct.
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I don't like either of the answers. [=I like neither of the answers]
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I haven't written to either of my parents.
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French and English are closer to each other than either (of the two languages) is to Chinese.
Usage
According to the rules of grammar, the pronoun either is singular and requires a singular verb.
However, in informal writing and speech, a plural verb is common when either is followed by of.
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Either is correct.
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Either of the answers is/are correct.
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This was not something that either of them was/were happy about.
3
either
/ˈiːðɚ/
Brit
/ˈaɪðə/
conjunction
3
either
/ˈiːðɚ/
Brit
/ˈaɪðə/
conjunction
Britannica Dictionary definition of EITHER
— used with or to indicate choices or possibilities
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You can either go or stay.
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I can't remember her name. It's either Marie or Mary.
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He will give the money either to his son or his daughter. = He will give the money to either his son or his daughter.
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A statement is either true or false. [=no statement is both true and false]
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They can either be black, brown, or blue. = They can be either black, brown, or blue.
◊ When either and or are used to join two subjects in a sentence, the verb should agree with the subject that is closer to it.
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Either the professor or the students are wrong.
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Either you or I am wrong.
4
either
/ˈiːðɚ/
Brit
/ˈaɪðə/
adverb
4
either
/ˈiːðɚ/
Brit
/ˈaɪðə/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of EITHER
:
in addition
— used after a negative statement
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The cars are reliable and are not expensive either.
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He is not wise or handsome either. [=he is neither wise nor handsome]
◊ The phrase me either is used in informal U.S. speech to say that you agree with a negative statement that someone has made.
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“I didn't like the movie.” “Me either.” [=I also didn't like the movie]
◊ The phrase me neither is used in the same way.
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“I don't like that guy.” “Me neither.”
