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
The research concludes that the attachment to one or the other country of ownership has to do with trade intensity between the nations but also with strategic choices made by the third country’s government.
—
Katharina Buchholz, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Gingivitis leads to periodontitis, so a healthcare provider will typically diagnose you with one or the other stage of gum disease.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 12 Apr. 2025
But the Diamondbacks would likely rather have Burnes than Gallen anyway, though having both would be much better than one or the other.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Quiescence and obligate diapause have different advantages, and most insect species opt for one or the other.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2025
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Katharina Buchholz, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Gingivitis leads to periodontitis, so a healthcare provider will typically diagnose you with one or the other stage of gum disease.
—Cristina Mutchler, Health, 12 Apr. 2025
But the Diamondbacks would likely rather have Burnes than Gallen anyway, though having both would be much better than one or the other.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Quiescence and obligate diapause have different advantages, and most insect species opt for one or the other.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 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 2 May. 2025.
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