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
Some people feel both ways, think both things are important, and, of course, some people think one or the other is more important.
—
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 7 Oct. 2024
The answer doesn’t always have to be one or the other.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2024
And in today's media landscape, absent a big mistake by one or the other, this is the only thing --
STEPHANOPOULOS: But his confidence has been shaken after the first debate.
—ABC News, 22 Sep. 2024
Choose to create both horizontal and vertical lines, or opt for one or the other for a more minimal look.
—Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for one or the other 
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 7 Oct. 2024
The answer doesn’t always have to be one or the other.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2024
And in today's media landscape, absent a big mistake by one or the other, this is the only thing --
STEPHANOPOULOS: But his confidence has been shaken after the first debate.
—ABC News, 22 Sep. 2024
Choose to create both horizontal and vertical lines, or opt for one or the other for a more minimal look.
—Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for one or the other
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'one or the other.' 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 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 25 Oct. 2024.
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