both

[ bohth ]

adjective

1. one and the other; two together:

   He met both sisters. Both performances were canceled.

pronoun

1. the one as well as the other:

   Both of us were going to the party.

conjunction

1. alike; equally:

   He is both ready and willing.

both

/ bəʊθ /

determiner

1. 1. the two; two considered together

      both dogs were dirty

   2. ( as pronoun )

      both are to blame

conjunction

1. coordinating used preceding words, phrases, or clauses joined by and , used to emphasize that not just one, but also the other of the joined elements is included

   both new and exciting

   both Ellen and Keith enjoyed the play

Word History and Origins

Origin of both¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English bothe, bathe, Old English bā thā “both the, both those”; cognate with German, Dutch beide, Old High German bêde; akin to Latin ambō, Greek ámphō, Lithuanian abù, Sanskrit ubháu

Word History and Origins

Origin of both¹

C12: from Old Norse bāthir ; related to Old High German bēde , Latin ambō , Greek amphō

Idioms and Phrases

• best of both worlds
• burn the candle at both ends
• cut both ways
• foot in both camps
• have it both ways
• play both ends against the middle
• work both sides of the street

Example Sentences

France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.

From The Daily Beast

That officer fretting about his “stance,” we learn, is plagued by PTSD that cripples him both on the job and at home.

From The Daily Beast

Smith attended both funerals as a cop and as the husband of Police Officer Moira Smith, who died on 9/11.

From The Daily Beast

Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.

From The Daily Beast

The use of slurs from both characters makes it clear just how “new” the idea of an openly gay son is even in this time.

From The Daily Beast

There was a rumor that Alessandro and his father had both died; but no one knew anything certainly.

From Project Gutenberg

You need but will, and it is done; but if you relax your efforts, you will be ruined; for ruin and recovery are both from within.

From Project Gutenberg

We prefer the American volume of Hochelaga to the Canadian one, although both are highly interesting.

From Project Gutenberg

The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.

From Project Gutenberg

If you throw away this chance, you will both richly deserve to be hanged, as I sincerely trust you will be.

From Project Gutenberg