Definition of both
:the one as well as the other
- both of us
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Origin and Etymology of both
Middle English bothe, probably from Old Norse bāthir; akin to Old High German beide both
Definition of both
—used as a function word to indicate and stress the inclusion of each of two or more things specified by coordinated words, phrases, or clauses
- prized both for its beauty and for its utility
- he … who loveth well both man and bird and beast
- —S. T. Coleridge
Origin and Etymology of both
Definition of both
:being the two :affecting or involving the one and the other
- both feet
- both his eyes
- both these armies
Recent Examples of both from the Web
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Many begin their pilgrimage by traveling to Medina, the site of both the Prophet Muhammad’s first mosque and where he is buried.
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Mundelein is receiving an air quality grant and railroad crossing safety grant that collectively reimburses 80 percent of both the $419,000 design cost and the subsequent $5 million construction costs, Lobaito said.
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Florists and greenhouses in Charleston make their magnolia wreaths huge, sometimes almost the whole width of a front door, bristling with both the glossy forest green and the matte mahogany sides of the leaves to add contrasting texture.
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But instead of firing the company, the Christie administration reworked its contract, citing both the state's earlier denial of keno-style games and a national downturn in lottery revenues.
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Oculus has had a pretty good run for the last six months, slashing the cost of the Rift first to $599 all-inclusive (meaning both the headset and Touch controllers), then to $499—with a temporary sale price of $399 for the summer.
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Watson continues to receive practice reps at both the inside and outside linebacker positions with the second-team defense.
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From playing a pivotal role in Tiananmen Square in 1989 to suffering a lonely death under police guard, Liu Xiaobo’s fate has become both a symbol of the plight of China’s democracy and an urgent warning to the world.
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According to a new study recently presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Harvard researchers analyzed 19,000 IVF cycles to determine how the chances of conception varied based on both the mothers' and fathers' ages.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'both.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of both
BOTH Defined for English Language Learners
both
conjunction
Definition of both for English Language Learners
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—used before two words or phrases connected with and to stress that each is included
both
adjective
Definition of both for English Language Learners
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—used to indicate that two things or people are being referred to rather than just one
BOTH Defined for Kids
Learn More about both
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See words that rhyme with both Spanish Central: Translation of both Nglish: Translation of both for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of both for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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