either

1 of 4

adjective

ei·​ther ˈē-t͟hər How to pronounce either (audio)
also
ˈī- How to pronounce either (audio)
1
: being the one and the other of two : each
flowers blooming on either side of the walk
plays either instrument well
2
: being the one or the other of two
take either road

either

2 of 4

pronoun

: the one or the other
take either of the two routes

either

3 of 4

conjunction

used as a function word before two or more coordinate words, phrases, or clauses joined usually by or to indicate that what immediately follows is the first of two or more alternatives
can be used either as a guest room or as an office

either

4 of 4

adverb

1
: likewise, moreover
used for emphasis after a negative
not smart or handsome either
2
: for that matter
used for emphasis after an alternative following a question or conditional clause especially where negation is implied
who answers for the Irish parliament? or army either?Robert Browning

Examples of either in a Sentence

Adjective French and English are closer to each other than either language is to Chinese. You may take either road. You may choose either answer. Either way is all right with me. Pronoun I haven't written to either of my parents. Adverb you won't convince them, and, in fact, I don't agree either!
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But some judges criticized the either-jail-or-probation sentencing aspect of the parading charge. Rachel Weiner, Tom Jackman and Spencer S. Hsu, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Jan. 2022
Conjunction
But scientists and doctors say things aren’t that simple — and a belief that exposing children to marijuana, either directly or indirectly, is harmless isn’t supported by the facts. Daniel M. Jimenez, The Cannifornian, 22 June 2017 Consumers face two possible outcomes — insurers will either leave the marketplace or be forced to raise their rates. Bloomberg News, The Denver Post, 5 May 2017
Adverb
The season’s sixth chapter is absolutely stunning, as a wounded Joe either suffers an extended hallucination or takes a long visit to the spirit world in order to reckon with a dark secret of his past that ties into several of the problems he’s recently brought upon himself. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025 To be fair, the SE didn’t support MagSafe either, but every new iPhone design since the iPhone 12 way back in 2020 has—and not just the premium flagships. Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for either

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English ǣghwæther both, each, from ā always + ge-, collective prefix + hwæther which of two, whether — more at aye, co-

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of either was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Either.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

either

1 of 4 adjective
ei·​ther ˈē-t͟hər How to pronounce either (audio)
also
ˈī- How to pronounce either (audio)
1
: being the one and the other of two : each
signs on either side of the walk
2
: being the one or the other of two
take either road

either

2 of 4 pronoun
: the one or the other
tell either of my sisters

either

3 of 4 conjunction
used before the first of two or more words or word groups the last of which follows or to show that they are choices or possibilities
a statement is either true or false

either

4 of 4 adverb
1
: likewise sense 2, moreover
used after a negative
not wise or handsome either
2
: so far as that is concerned
used after a choice or possibility following a question or conditional clause
if your father had come or your mother either all would have gone well

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