det A1 Beginner Very common

either

EYE-thuh

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Either (det) means one or the other of two options; whichever of two. Example: “You can take either road to get to the station.”

det

One or the other of two options; whichever of two.

"You can take either road to get to the station."

"Either answer would be acceptable."

"You can pay with either card, because the shop accepts both."

Each of two; both.

"There are trees on either side of the path."

"She held a heavy bag in either hand as she crossed the road."

"Guards stood at either end of the long bridge."

conj

Used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, paired with "or."

"You can either call me or send a text."

"We can either walk to the market or take the bus."

"You must either finish the report tonight or ask for more time."

adv

Used after a negative statement to add that the same is true of another thing, similar to "too."

"I don't like coffee, and I don't like tea either."

"He didn't enjoy the film, and his friends didn't like it either."

"I can't swim, and my sister can't either."

How to use either

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA word for choosing between two options, describing both of two things, or adding a negative agreement ("me neither" style).

Common mistake

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."

Easily confused with

neither →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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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.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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one or the other each any of the two

Antonyms

neither

Related words

A both every each per whether nor neither

Rhymes for either

zither hither wither thither whither neither slither

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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A both every each per whether nor neither