# either

/ˈaɪðɝ/ (US) · /ˈaɪðɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/either
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. one of two

determiner · CEFR A2

one or the other of two things or people.

For teachers: referring to any one of two people, things, or possibilities.

- You can park on either side of the street today.
- The candidate was equally qualified for either position, making the final selection process exceptionally difficult for the hiring committee.

Usage: Followed by a singular countable noun.

### 2. both

determiner · CEFR B1

each of two things.

For teachers: referring to each of two things, often used to describe things that come in pairs.

- There were tall trees on either side of the river.
- The guards stood at either end of the corridor, ensuring that no unauthorised personnel could enter the secure wing.

Usage: Followed by a singular countable noun.

Teaching tip: In this sense, 'either' is more formal than 'both'.

### 3. one or the other

pronoun · CEFR A2

one of two people or things, used without naming the noun again.

For teachers: the one or the other of two people or things; functions as the head of a noun phrase.

- I have two pens; you can use either of them.
- If either of the proposed solutions fails to address the budget deficit, the board will be forced to consider more drastic measures.

Usage: Often followed by 'of' plus a plural noun or pronoun.

### 4. choice with 'or'

conjunction · CEFR A2

used before the first of two choices to show a clear alternative.

For teachers: a correlative conjunction used to introduce the first of two or more alternatives, paired with 'or'.

- We can either go to the cinema or stay at home and watch a movie.
- The company must either invest heavily in new technology or risk losing its competitive advantage in the global market.

Usage: Pairs with 'or' to connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Teaching tip: Ensure the elements following 'either' and 'or' are grammatically parallel.

### 5. also (in negative sentences)

adverb · CEFR A2

used at the end of a negative sentence to mean 'also'.

For teachers: used for emphasis after a negative statement to indicate that a further negative fact is also true.

- I don't like spicy food, and my sister doesn't like it either.
- The first experiment did not yield the expected results, and the subsequent trials were not successful either.

Usage: Typically placed at the end of a clause.

## Examples

- I don't like coffee, and I don't like tea either.
- If you aren't going to the party tonight, then I'm not going either.
- The first experiment failed to produce significant results, and the subsequent trials did not yield any usable data either, leading the team to reconsider their hypothesis.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.