each
Americanadjective
pronoun
adverb
determiner
adverb
Usage
The adjective each is always followed by a singular noun: each person; each book. When the adjective follows a plural subject, the verb agrees with the subject: They each dress in different styles. The houses each have central heating. When the pronoun each comes immediately before the verb, it always takes a singular verb: Each comes (not come ) from a different country. When the pronoun is followed by an of phrase containing a plural noun or pronoun, there is a tendency for the verb to be plural: Each of the candidates has (or have ) spoken on the issue. Some usage guides maintain that only the singular verb is correct, but plural verbs occur frequently even in edited writing. It is also sometimes said that the pronoun each must always be referred to by a singular pronoun, but again actual usage does not regularly observe this stricture: Each member of our garden club had their own special interests. In the most formal speech and writing, singular verbs and pronouns occur more frequently than plural: Each member … had his own special interests. The use of plural forms, especially plural pronouns, has been increasing in the United States, partially because of the desire to avoid using he or his to refer to a female. Anyone, anybody, everyone, everybody, no one, someone, and somebody follow the same general patterns of pronoun agreement as each. See also they.
Each is a singular pronoun and should be used with a singular form of a verb: each of the candidates was (not were ) interviewed separately
Synonym Usage
Each, every are alike in having a distributive meaning. Of two or more members composing an aggregate, each directs attention to the separate members in turn: Each child (of those considered and enumerated) received a large apple. Every emphasizes inclusiveness or universality: Every child (of all in existence) likes to play.
Etymology
Origin of each
First recorded before 900; Middle English eche, Old English ælc, equivalent to ā “ever” ( see ay 1) + (ge)līc alike; cognate with Old High German ēo-gilīh, Old Frisian ellīk, Dutch, Low German elk
Explanation
Use the adjective each when every separate person or thing in a group is considered individually, one by one or piece by piece. If all the guests at your party will go home with a goody bag, you can say that each person will get one. The word each is useful for singling out one instance, item, or person from a larger group. When it's used as an adverb, it basically means "apiece." You might, for example, say, "These cupcakes cost me three dollars each," or "My siblings and I have one cat each — all together, we have six cats in our family." The Old English root of each,
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Each year the government sets targets for the number of student teachers it needs to recruit in each individual secondary school subject.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Each experiment required a similar amount of time before meaningful conclusions could be drawn and the next stage of research could begin.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
What’s Next: Each broker has their own criteria to determine which bids will receive an allocation.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Each send-up is funny for at least an entire minute, a lifetime when you’re watching Marlon’s Shorty mug for the camera.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
Each of us has a paper posted at our workstation containing the numbers for these emergency services so that when we’re asked to patch someone through, we don’t have to think twice.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
