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

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Nwosu has a refined ability to present alternating perspectives without tipping the scales on one or the other. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026 If one or the other is short on players, then commissioner Adam Silver will pick extras to ensure both teams have enough. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026 The question, then, is whether the sluggishness of the business, the suffering of union members and threats on the horizon might dissuade either side from playing hardball — or whether recent events will embolden one or the other. Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026 On Capitol Hill, lawmakers have raised concerns about with combination of Paramount and Netflix with WBD, although some have weighed in on one or the other. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for one or the other

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Cite this Entry

“One or the other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20or%20the%20other. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.

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