each
- 01 A2 Elementary
pron.every person or thing in a group when you do not name them again.
pron.functions as the head of a noun phrase to refer to every individual member of a previously mentioned group.
Simple“There were five apples and I gave each of the children one.”
In context“The director interviewed ten candidates and gave each a fair opportunity to demonstrate their technical proficiency.”
UsageOften used in the pattern 'each of' followed by a plural noun or pronoun.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adv.to or for every person or thing in a group.
adv.used after a noun or at the end of a sentence to indicate a price or amount for every individual item.
Simple“The tickets for the cinema cost ten dollars each.”
In context“The vintage postcards were sold for five pounds each, regardless of their condition or rarity.”
UsageUsually placed after the noun or the amount it refers to.
Synonymsapieceper item
each vs every — Each focuses on individual members of a group one by one, while every views the group as a collective whole.
From Middle English eche, elche, ilch, from Old English ǣlċ, contraction of ǣġhwelċ. Comparable to aye + alike. Compare Scots ilk, elk (“each, every”), Saterland Frisian älk (“each”), West Frisian elk, elts (“each”), Dutch elk (“each”), Low German elk, ellik (“each”), German Low German elk, elke (“each, every”), German jeglicher (“any”). By surface analysis, Old English ā + which.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.