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
South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2025
Moving beyond the binary understanding of either-or this means recognizing that AI is a tool to augment, not replace, human capabilities.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Olah, like many in the community who balance visions of utopian abundance and existential devastation, plants himself in the middle of this either-or proposition.
—Steven Levy, Wired News, 28 Mar. 2025
Then, that group convinced schools that winning in football and basketball wasn’t an either-or proposition.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
The bunnies offered an either-or that seems to have tickled her interest in the intersection between what’s literal and abstract: the mind conspires with the eye to see bodies in shapes or shapes in bodies.
—Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025
Leaders who embrace this truth see that relationships and achievement aren’t an either-or proposition.
—Jennifer Kamara, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The ‘either-or’ narrative makes no sense even at the slightest glance.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
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
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Noun
Braving a series of twists and turns while racing down the flume of a high-speed dueling water coaster?
Sun Sentinel
Dave Hyde: Ten April blunders tell why Dolphins don’t win in January
For too much of a quarter-century, the Dolphins have been on the wrong side of either-or draft decisions.
—South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2025
Moving beyond the binary understanding of either-or this means recognizing that AI is a tool to augment, not replace, human capabilities.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
Olah, like many in the community who balance visions of utopian abundance and existential devastation, plants himself in the middle of this either-or proposition.
—Steven Levy, Wired News, 28 Mar. 2025
Then, that group convinced schools that winning in football and basketball wasn’t an either-or proposition.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
The bunnies offered an either-or that seems to have tickled her interest in the intersection between what’s literal and abstract: the mind conspires with the eye to see bodies in shapes or shapes in bodies.
—Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 17 Mar. 2025
Leaders who embrace this truth see that relationships and achievement aren’t an either-or proposition.
—Jennifer Kamara, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The ‘either-or’ narrative makes no sense even at the slightest glance.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Either-or.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/either-or. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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