one or the other

idiom

: one of two persons or things but not the other
One or the other of us will have to go.

Examples of one or the other in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Organizations that blend quantitative and qualitative data in their communications receive more attention compared to those that rely on one or the other. Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 The costs of booths are about the same for both fair models, and dealers didn’t appear to hesitate much between showing at one or the other. Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Some scientific evidence indicates combining alcohol and cannabis at the same time can magnify the effects of one or the other or both. Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024 Other places of cooperation could be in materials used to build fusion plants, taking advantage of clearing regulatory hurdles by one or the other side, software, and development of safety regulations. David Szondy, New Atlas, 8 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for one or the other 

Dictionary Entries Near one or the other

Cite this Entry

“One or the other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one%20or%20the%20other. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!