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conjunction A1 Beginner Very common

or

uh
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Or (conjunction) means used to link two or more alternatives, showing that any one of them could be true or chosen. Example: “Would you like tea or coffee?”

conjunction
1
Used to link two or more alternatives, showing that any one of them could be true or chosen.
"Would you like tea or coffee?"
"You can pay by card or cash."
"We can walk to the station or catch the bus."
2
Introduces a consequence that follows if a stated condition is not met.
"Hurry up, or we'll miss the train."
"Put your coat on, or you will be cold outside."
"Drink some water, or you might get a headache later."

How to use or

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe word that links choices or alternatives together.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "nor," which is used after a negative ("neither tea nor coffee").

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Word forms

Plural
ors
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Would you like tea _____ coffee?

Etymology

From Middle English or, partly a contraction of "other" and partly from Old English oththe, both meaning roughly "or."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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otherwise or else alternatively

Antonyms

NOR

Related words

else instead nor otherwise differently ne likewise alternatively

Frequently asked questions

What does “or” mean?
The word “or” means used to link two or more alternatives, showing that any one of them could be true or chosen. In plain terms, the word that links choices or alternatives together.
How do you pronounce “or”?
“Or” is pronounced uh (/ə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “or” in a sentence?
Here is “or” used in a sentence: “Would you like tea or coffee?”
What is the opposite of “or”?
The opposite of “or” — its antonyms — is NOR.
What part of speech is “or”?
“Or” is a conjunction.
Where does the word “or” come from?
The word “or” comes from Old English. From Middle English or, partly a contraction of "other" and partly from Old English oththe, both meaning roughly "or.".
Is “or” a common word?
“Or” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “or” have?
“Or” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to link two or more alternatives, showing that any one of them could be true or chosen.
What is the difference between "or" and "nor"?
"Or" links alternatives in positive contexts ("tea or coffee"), while "nor" continues a negative begun by "neither" or another negative word ("neither tea nor coffee"). After "neither," standard English requires "nor," not "or."
Do you put a comma before "or"?
Use a comma before "or" when it joins two independent clauses ("You can call me, or you can send an email"). In lists, the comma before the final "or" is the serial (Oxford) comma — standard in many American styles and optional in British style — so pick one approach and stay consistent.
Is "and/or" acceptable in writing?
"And/or" is accepted in legal, technical, and business writing, where it compactly covers both possibilities. Many style guides discourage it in general prose because it reads awkwardly; writing "X or Y, or both" is a clearer alternative.

Example sentences

Real-world examples showing or in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.

Think back to examples like Maria Bello in "A History of Violence" (2005) or Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006).
From Variety · Jul 24, 2026

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else instead nor otherwise differently ne likewise alternatively