Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

either-or

adjective [before noun]
 
 
/ˌaɪ.ðərˈɔːr/ /ˌiː-/ US  /-ðɚˈɔːr/

Definition

describes a situation in which there is a choice between two different plans of action, but both together are not possible: It's an either-or situation - we can buy a new car this year or we can go on holiday, but we can't do both.Taking and choosingExpressions used to describe situations
(Definition of either-or adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

a cloud on the horizon

something which threatens to cause problems or unhappiness in the future

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More