one or the other
idiom
: one of two persons or things but not the other
One or the other of us will have to go.
Examples of one or the other in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If one or the other is tripped, turn that back on and test again.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Many frothers can handle one or the other, but the Breville nails both, thanks to its precise temperature control.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
Different players gravitate toward one or the other, and that’s not a problem in and of itself, multiple sources said.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
About 40 people came to support one or the other viewpoint.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for one or the other
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Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
Many frothers can handle one or the other, but the Breville nails both, thanks to its precise temperature control.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025
Different players gravitate toward one or the other, and that’s not a problem in and of itself, multiple sources said.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
About 40 people came to support one or the other viewpoint.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for one or the other
Cite this Entry
“One or the other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20or%20the%20other. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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