each other
1 synonym for each other, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Pronoun — Used to show that each of two or more people or things does something to the other and receives the same thing back.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
one another
How to use each other
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
know each other
help each other
each other's
talk to each other
love each other
Etymology
From Middle English ech other, yche othere, ich othir, eche other, ilk oþer, from Old English ǣlċ ōþer (“each other”), equivalent to each + other. Cognate with Scots ilk other (“each other”), West Frisian elkoar (“each other”), Dutch elkander, elkaar (“each other”).
Full origin of each other →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 'each other' and 'one another'?
In careful traditional usage, 'each other' is used for two people and 'one another' for three or more. In practice modern English treats them as interchangeable, and no reader will misunderstand either one.
Is it 'each other's' or 'each others''?
It is always 'each other's', with the apostrophe before the s, as in 'they wore each other's coats'. 'Each other' is treated as singular for possession, so 'each others'' is never correct.
Can 'each other' be the subject of a sentence?
No. It is a reciprocal pronoun and can only be an object or a possessive, as in 'they helped each other' or 'each other's homes'. Say 'they each thought the other was wrong', not 'each other thought'.
