both

American  

[bohth] / boʊθ /

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 British  

/ 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 Ellen and Keith enjoyed the play

   both new and exciting

both Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing both

• 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

---

Etymology

Origin of both

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

Explanation

When you're talking about two things that go together, use the adjective both. If you put on both of your boots, you are wearing the left one and the right one. When you use the word both, you're always talking about two of something. If you say you're having dinner with both of your brothers this weekend, it means you have two brothers. When you call both of your dogs to come inside, it's clear you've got two dogs. There are a few theories about the origin of both, including the Old English word begen, "both," and the the Old Norse baðir, also "both."

Example Sentences

The elder Iwerks met fellow artist Walt Disney when both men were teenagers working at a Kansas City, Mo., art studio.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 12, 2026

The creamy, savory sauce pairs beautifully with both the meat and the charred vegetables.

From Salon • Jul. 12, 2026

World number one Nelly Korda, who missed the cut at Evian-les-Bains, won both the Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open earlier in the season.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2026

In the quarterfinals, both teams needed to survive nerve-shredding periods of extra time that could easily have sent them tumbling out of the tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 12, 2026

“Now eat,” she commands us both just as her phone chirps from the depths of her bag.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam