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
Choose to create both horizontal and vertical lines, or opt for one or the other for a more minimal look.
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Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2024
One Southern Living reader suggests adding both cinnamon and nutmeg rather than one or the other.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2024
Scientists use both, usually picking one or the other in their calculations depending on what makes the math easier or more intuitive.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 July 2024
Voters can participate in both contests but candidates had to pick one or the other.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for one or the other 
Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Sep. 2024
One Southern Living reader suggests adding both cinnamon and nutmeg rather than one or the other.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2024
Scientists use both, usually picking one or the other in their calculations depending on what makes the math easier or more intuitive.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 July 2024
Voters can participate in both contests but candidates had to pick one or the other.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for one or the other
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'one or the other.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 2 Oct. 2024.
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