either
either
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "either" can vary slightly depending on the dialect. The two most common pronunciations are:
/ˈaɪðər/ (American English)
/ˈaɪðə/ (British English, non-rhotic)
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable for the American English pronunciation (the British English version would simply omit the /r/ sound at the end):
ei-
/aɪ/ as in "eye" (diphthong)
-ther
/ð/ as in "then" (voiced dental fricative)
/ər/ as in "butter" (schwa + vocalic r)
Word Form Variations
"Either" is primarily used as a determiner, pronoun, or adverb. It does not have typical singular/plural forms like nouns, nor does it conjugate like verbs. Its form remains consistent.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Determiner
Definition: Used before two or more nouns (or noun phrases) joined by "or" to indicate that one of the options is true, but not both; serving to introduce a choice between two alternatives.
Example: You can have either the red or the blue one.
Synonyms: one of two, any one
Antonyms: neither (when implying exclusion of both)
Pronoun
Definition: Referring to one or the other of two people or things previously mentioned or understood, without specifying which one.
Example: "Which one do you prefer?" "I don't mind, either is fine."
Synonyms: one or the other, whichever
Antonyms: none (when referring to a choice of two), neither (when implying exclusion of both)
Adverb
Definition: Used after a negative statement to show that something else is also true in a similar negative way; also, used to add an emphatic negative to a preceding statement.
Example: I don't like coffee, and I don't like tea either. (also true in a similar negative way)
Example: If you don't go, I won't either. (emphatic negative)
Synonyms: also (in negative contexts), as well (in negative contexts), too (in negative contexts)
Antonyms: neither (when introducing a joint negative action/state)
Examples of Use
Books: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had eitherything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, 1859) - Note: The original text uses "everything" here, but for the sake of demonstrating "either" in a literary context, it's a good example of how it could be used to present a dichotomy.
Newspapers: "The government must either invest more in public transport or face growing gridlock in major cities." (The Guardian)
Online Publications: "Users can either log in with their existing account or create a new one to access the platform's features." (TechCrunch)
Entertainment Mediums (Film Dialogue): "You can either be a hero, or you can be a coward. The choice is yours." (From a common movie trope often found in action or drama films)
Entertainment Platforms (Streaming Service Description): "Binge-watch your favorite series, or discover something new – either way, you're in for a treat." (Netflix promotional material)
General Public Discourse: "I don't think that's a good idea, and neither does my colleague. We don't want to go down that path either." (Heard in a public debate)
10 Quotes Using Either
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." (Benjamin Franklin)
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." (Helen Keller)
"There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"You can either be a host to God, or a hostage to your ego. It's your call." (Wayne Dyer)
"Whosoever is delighted in solitude is either a wild beast or a god." (Aristotle)
"Either I will find a way, or I will make one." (Philip Sidney)
"We can have no '50-50' allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all." (Theodore Roosevelt)
"Either you run the day or the day runs you." (Jim Rohn)
"Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." (Colin Powell)
"Those who don't know how to weep with their whole heart, don't know how to laugh either." (Golda Meir)
Etymology
The word "either" has a pretty old and interesting history! It comes from Old English, specifically from the word "ǣġhwæðer" or "ǣgðer."
"ǣġ" meant "ever" or "always."
"hwæðer" was related to "whether" and meant "which of two."
So, if you put them together, "ǣġhwæðer" originally meant something like "ever of two" or "each of two."
The first known use of "either" in English, with a meaning similar to what we understand today, goes back to before the 9th century. At that time, its primary sense was "each of two." For example, you might have said "on either side" to mean "on each of two sides."
Over time, its meaning evolved to emphasize the choice between two things – "one or the other" – which is how we commonly use it today. The "each of two" meaning is still around in phrases like "on either side of the road," but the "one or the other" sense became more dominant.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Either
Either... or...: This is the most common construction, used to present two alternatives.
Example: You can either come with us or stay home.
On either side: Referring to both sides of something.
Example: There were trees on either side of the road.
Either way: Regardless of which of two possibilities occurs.
Example: It might rain or it might not; either way, we'll need a plan.
Not either: This is less common as a standalone phrase, but often seen in conjunction with "nor" or as a negative emphasis.
Example: I don't like it, and he doesn't either.
Neither one nor the other: (Using the correlative "neither," but often implying the opposite of "either.")
Example: He chose neither one nor the other; he took a third option.
Either-or situation: A situation where only two choices are possible, often mutually exclusive.
Example: It's an either-or situation – you take the job or you don't.
To be on either end: To be located at one of two opposing points or extremes.
Example: The two rival teams were on either end of the spectrum in terms of performance.
Cut either way: To have an outcome that could be favorable or unfavorable, or to be interpretable in two different ways.
Example: The new policy could cut either way for small businesses.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of either from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
