either
Either (det) means one or the other of two options; whichever of two. Example: “You can take either road to get to the station.”
How to use either
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word for choosing between two options, describing both of two things, or adding a negative agreement ("me neither" style).
Use "either...or" for two options, and remember "either" (not "neither") pairs with negative sentences plus "either" at the end, e.g. "I can't come either."
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
You can take _____ road to get to the station.
Etymology
From Middle English either, from Old English ǣġhwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *aiw + *gahwaþar. Akin to Old Saxon eogihwethar, iahwethar (Low German jeed); Old Dutch *iogewether, *iowether, *iother (Dutch ieder); Old High German eogihwedar, iegihweder, ieweder (German jeder). The pronunciations with /iː/ and /eɪ/ respectively reflect Middle English forms in /ɛː/ and /æi/; the origin of that with /aɪ/ is less clear, but it may reflect a Middle English form with /iː/; see Middle English either for more discussion.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for either
See all rhymes for either →Frequently asked questions
What does “either” mean?
The word “either” means one or the other of two options; whichever of two. In plain terms, a word for choosing between two options, describing both of two things, or adding a negative agreement ("me neither" style).
How do you pronounce “either”?
“Either” is pronounced EYE-thuh (/ˈaɪ.ðɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “either” in a sentence?
Here is “either” used in a sentence: “You can take either road to get to the station.”
What part of speech is “either”?
Depending on how it is used, “either” can be a det, a conjunction and an adverb.
Is “either” a common word?
“Either” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “either” have?
“Either” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one or the other of two options; whichever of two.
What is the difference between either and neither?
'Either' is positive and means one or the other of two — 'either option works.' 'Neither' is negative and means not one and not the other — 'neither option works.' They pair with different words too: either goes with 'or,' while neither goes with 'nor.'
How do you pronounce 'either'?
There are two accepted pronunciations: 'EYE-ther,' more common in British English, and 'EE-ther,' more common in American English. Neither is wrong — both are correct and widely understood. The same choice applies to its partner word 'neither,' said as 'NYE-ther' or 'NEE-ther.'
Can 'either' be used for more than two things?
Traditionally 'either' refers to just two options — one or the other. For three or more choices, words like 'any' are usually clearer: 'any of the three.' In casual speech people sometimes stretch 'either' to more than two, but careful writing keeps it to a choice between two.
What does 'either' mean at the end of a sentence?
At the end of a negative sentence, 'either' means 'also' or 'too.' For example, 'I don't like it, and she doesn't either' adds her to the same negative statement. In this use, 'either' shows agreement with something negative, where a positive sentence would use 'too.'
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