either

either
1 conjunction
1 used to begin a list of two or more possibilities separated by `or': You add either one or two stock cubes. | She's the kind of person you either love or hate. | It was either pink, red, or orange.
—compare or (1)
2 used to say that if one thing does not happen then something else will have to: It's your choice! Either she leaves or I will! | £75 seems a lot to pay for a starter motor but it's either that or a new car!
2 determiner
1 one or the other of two things or people: I've lived in New York and Chicago but don't like either city very much. | either way (=in one way or the other): You can get to Edinburgh by train or plane but either way it's very expensive. | “Shall we have Indian or Chinese?” “I don't mind either way really.” | The baby's due on the 10th but the doctor said it could be a fortnight either way. (=it could be born two weeks early or two weeks late)
—compare any 1, any 2, neither 1
2 one and the other of two things or people; each: He sat in the back of the car with a policeman on either side. | There are shops at either end of the street.
—compare both
3 an either-or situation a situation in which you cannot avoid having to make a decision or choice
—see also 3 pronoun one or the other of two things or people: There's tea or coffee - you can have either. | Do either of you know where I can buy a zip round here? 4 adverb
1 (only in negatives) also: I haven't seen the move and my brother hasn't either. (=both haven't seen it) | “I can't swim.” “I can't, either.”
2 me either AmE spoken used to say that something is also true about you: “I don't have any money right now.” “Me either.”
—compare neither 3, too (2)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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Synonyms:
(of two) / (of several) / (of two), ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • either — 1. pronunciation. The pronunciations iy dhǝ and ee dhǝ are about equally common. 2. parts of speech. Either functions in two ways: as an adjective or pronoun, and as an adverb or conjunction. In all these uses, it means essentially ‘one or other… …   Modern English usage

  • either — [ē′thər, ī′thər] adj. [ME < OE æghwæther < a (æ), always (see AY) + gehwæther, each of two (see WHETHER): akin to, and of same formation as, OHG eogihwedar] 1. one or the other (of two) [use either hand] 2. each (of two); the one and the… …   English World dictionary

  • Either — Ei ther ([=e] [th][ e]r or [imac] [th][ e]r; 277), a. & pron. [OE. either, aither, AS. [=ae]g[eth]er, [=ae]ghw[ae][eth]er (akin to OHG. [=e]ogiwedar, MHG. iegeweder); [=a] + ge + hw[ae][eth]er whether. See {Each}, and {Whether}, and cf. {Or},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Either — Ei ther, conj. Either precedes two, or more, co[ o]rdinate words or phrases, and is introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or. [1913 Webster] Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • either —  Either suggests a duality and is almost always better avoided when the context involves quantities of more than two, as in Decisions on Mansfield’s economy are now made in either Detroit, Pittsburgh, or New York. Often in such constructions,… …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Either/Or — Album par Elliott Smith Sortie 27 février 1997 Durée 37:00 Genre(s) Rock indépendant Producteur(s) Elliott Smith Tom Rothrock Rob Schnapf …   Wikipédia en Français

  • either...or ...or — either...or (...or) phrase used for showing two or more possibilities or choices You must answer either yes or no. You can contact us either by phone, by email, or by letter. When there’s a crisis, they either do nothing or do something totally… …   Useful english dictionary

  • either — O.E. ægðer, contraction of æghwæðer each of two, both, from a always (see AYE (Cf. aye) (2)) + ge collective prefix + hwæðer which of two, whether (see WHETHER (Cf. whether)). Cognate with Du. ieder, O.H.G. eogiwedar, G …   Etymology dictionary

  • Either — Either/or means one or the other. Its usage, versus the simple or structure, is often for emphatic purposes, sometimes intending to emphasize that only one option is possible, or to emphasize that there are only two options. Its use in a sentence …   Wikipedia

  • either — ► CONJUNCTION & ADVERB 1) used before the first of two (or occasionally more) alternatives specified (the other being introduced by ‘or’). 2) (adverb ) used to indicate a similarity or link with a statement just made: You don t like him, do you?… …   English terms dictionary

  • either-or — [ē′thərôr′] adj. designating a proposition, situation, etc. limited to only two alternatives …   English World dictionary

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