either

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: ī′thə(r), ē′thə(r) IPA: /ˈaɪ.ðə(ɹ)/, /ˈiː.ðə(ɹ)/
• (General American) IPA: /ˈaɪ.ðɚ/, /ˈi.ðɚ/
• (obsolete (in use until the 20th c.)) enPR: ā′thə(r) IPA: /ˈeɪ.ðə(ɹ)/
• In the UK, /aɪ/ is used more in Southern England, and /iː/ is more usual in Northern England. In North America, /iː/ is the most common, but /aɪ/ is predominant in some regions. Note that even if one pronunciation is more common in a region, the pronunciation used varies by individual speaker and sometimes by situation. /eɪ/ was once heard in Northern England, but has now largely fallen into disuse.

Determiner

either

1. Any one (of two).
   • You can have it in either colour.
2. Each of two; both.
   • There is a locomotive at either end of the train, one pulling and the other pushing.
3. (now rare) Any one (of more than two).

Pronoun

either

1. One or the other of two people or things.
   • He made me two offers, but I did not accept either.
2. (obsolete) Both, each of two or more.

Adverb

either (not comparable)

1. (conjunctive, after a negative) As well.
   • I don't like him, and I don't like her either.
   • I know a cheap Spanish restaurant. It's not far from here, either.

Conjunction

either

1. Introduces the first of two (or occasionally more) options or possibilities, the second (or last) of which is introduced by “or”.
   • Either you eat your dinner or you go to your room.
   • You can have either potatoes or rice with that, but not both.
   • You'll be either early, late, or on time.

Derived terms

Anagrams

• Ethier, theire

Alternative forms

• æȝþer, ethir, eiþer, outher

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈɛi̯ðər/

Determiner

either

1. Both of two.
2. Each of two.
3. Either of two.

Pronoun

either

1. Both of two members of a group.
2. Each of two members of a group.
3. Either of two members of a group.

Adjective

either

1. Both, all, or any of a set.
2. Each of a group.