ei·ther-or
ˌē-t͟hər-ˈȯr 
also ˌī-
: an unavoidable choice or exclusive division between only two alternatives
: of or marked by either-or : black-and-white
Examples of either-or in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Yet as more starting pitchers try to extract more movement and velocity out of their pitch mix, it's almost become an either-or proposition.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
Accordingly, instead of bits, with their either-or operation, quantum computing uses a quantum bit, or qubit, which is a system that can be simultaneously in states 0 and 1.
—Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
This doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition, though.
—Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Soon after, O’Grady would add a postscript: Western culture is structured by binaries and a logic of either-or — good versus evil, black versus white — that create supremacies.
—Jillian Steinhauer, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Here are three ways to push back against either-or thinking.
—Aliza Knox, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
On its own, the either-or choice is a compelling argument for those voters who expect Presidents to follow the rules they’re charged with enforcing.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Datasets like these don’t come off the shelf and most often require a blend of building and buying, not an either-or scenario.
—Billee Howard, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024
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Noun
Rather than seeing college and nontraditional education as either-or choices, families should embrace a both-and mindset—one that prioritizes adaptability, lifelong learning, and a willingness to pivot as new opportunities emerge.
—Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Yet as more starting pitchers try to extract more movement and velocity out of their pitch mix, it's almost become an either-or proposition.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025
Accordingly, instead of bits, with their either-or operation, quantum computing uses a quantum bit, or qubit, which is a system that can be simultaneously in states 0 and 1.
—Charina Chou, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
This doesn’t have to be an either-or proposition, though.
—Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Soon after, O’Grady would add a postscript: Western culture is structured by binaries and a logic of either-or — good versus evil, black versus white — that create supremacies.
—Jillian Steinhauer, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
Here are three ways to push back against either-or thinking.
—Aliza Knox, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
On its own, the either-or choice is a compelling argument for those voters who expect Presidents to follow the rules they’re charged with enforcing.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
Datasets like these don’t come off the shelf and most often require a blend of building and buying, not an either-or scenario.
—Billee Howard, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near either-or
Cite this Entry
“Either-or.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either-or. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
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