1
: being the one and the other of two : each
flowers blooming on either side of the walk
plays either instrument well
2
: being the one or the other of two
take either road
: the one or the other
take either of the two routes
—used as a function word before two or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses joined usually by or to indicate that what immediately follows is the first of two or more alternatives
can be used either as a guest room or as an office
Synonyms
Examples of either in a Sentence
Adjective
French and English are closer to each other than either language is to Chinese.
You may take either road.
You may choose either answer.
Either way is all right with me.
Pronoun
I haven't written to either of my parents.
Adverb
you won't convince them, and, in fact, I don't agree either!
Recent Examples on the Web
Rachel Weiner, Tom Jackman and Spencer S. Hsu, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Jan. 2022
Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017
Consumers face two possible outcomes — insurers will either leave the marketplace or be forced to raise their rates.
—Bloomberg News, The Denver Post, 5 May 2017
Either the gravitational influence from a passing star or group of stars, or the shock waves from an old exploding star in the distance, stirs up the nebula.
—Mike Lynch / Sky Watch, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2017
Now either the president is flip-flopping or his staff is, once again, speaking out of turn.
—Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist, 23 Feb. 2017
The tests use either a cheek swab or saliva and return autosomal DNA reports, sampling at more than 700,000 locations along a genome.
—Katharine Gammon, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2017
The quarterbacks are the storyline for the 1:35 p.m. kickoff, but not in the way either team would’ve liked.
—Jimmy Durkin, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2017
Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
But sometimes the book about the adaptation is better than either.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
And with the base rate looking increasingly likely to stay at its highest rate in decades as the Fed attempts to push down inflation further, consumers can’t expect any relief there either.
—Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
But things aren't particularly fun and hilarious, either.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
In Gaza, thousands of families have not been able to hold funerals either; instead, many are placed in mass graves.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The only children who are singled out to pay for their own care are those receiving federal benefits, either because they are disabled, or have a deceased parent.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
No one was thrashing in pain; no one was smiling, either.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Seating arrangements shouldn’t be a problem either, with configurations for up to 24 guests on the upper deck, 18 on the main deck and 14 on both the top and pool decks.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
But some judges criticized the either-jail-or-probation sentencing aspect of the parading charge.
—Rachel Weiner, Tom Jackman and Spencer S. Hsu, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Jan. 2022
Conjunction
But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts.
—Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017
Consumers face two possible outcomes — insurers will either leave the marketplace or be forced to raise their rates.
—Bloomberg News, The Denver Post, 5 May 2017
Either the gravitational influence from a passing star or group of stars, or the shock waves from an old exploding star in the distance, stirs up the nebula.
—Mike Lynch / Sky Watch, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2017
Now either the president is flip-flopping or his staff is, once again, speaking out of turn.
—Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist, 23 Feb. 2017
The tests use either a cheek swab or saliva and return autosomal DNA reports, sampling at more than 700,000 locations along a genome.
—Katharine Gammon, Orange County Register, 30 Jan. 2017
The quarterbacks are the storyline for the 1:35 p.m. kickoff, but not in the way either team would’ve liked.
—Jimmy Durkin, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2017
Adverb
Garner isn’t the only one who loves them, either — thousands of Amazon shoppers have pointed to their comfort, cushioning, and durability.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
But sometimes the book about the adaptation is better than either.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
And with the base rate looking increasingly likely to stay at its highest rate in decades as the Fed attempts to push down inflation further, consumers can’t expect any relief there either.
—Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
But things aren't particularly fun and hilarious, either.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024
In Gaza, thousands of families have not been able to hold funerals either; instead, many are placed in mass graves.
—Shira Rubin, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The only children who are singled out to pay for their own care are those receiving federal benefits, either because they are disabled, or have a deceased parent.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2024
No one was thrashing in pain; no one was smiling, either.
—Christopher Fiorello, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Seating arrangements shouldn’t be a problem either, with configurations for up to 24 guests on the upper deck, 18 on the main deck and 14 on both the top and pool decks.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'either.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near either
Cite this Entry
“Either.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
either
2 of 4 pronoun
: the one or the other
tell either of my sisters
either
3 of 4 conjunction
—used before the first of two or more words or word groups the last of which follows or to show that they are choices or possibilities
a statement is either true or false
either
4 of 4 adverb1
: likewise sense 2, moreover
—used after a negative
not wise or handsome either
2
: so far as that is concerned
—used after a choice or possibility following a question or conditional clause
if your father had come or your mother either all would have gone well
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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