both
one and the other; two together: He met both sisters. Both performances were canceled.
the one as well as the other: Both of us were going to the party.
alike; equally: He is both ready and willing.
Origin of both
1Words Nearby both
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use both in a sentence
France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.
That officer fretting about his “stance,” we learn, is plagued by PTSD that cripples him both on the job and at home.
'Babylon' Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops | Melissa Leon | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTSmith attended both funerals as a cop and as the husband of Police Officer Moira Smith, who died on 9/11.
Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
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.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist | Judnick Mayard | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
There was a rumor that Alessandro and his father had both died; but no one knew anything certainly.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonYou 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.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouWe prefer the American volume of Hochelaga to the Canadian one, although both are highly interesting.
The bride elect rushes up to him, and so they both step down to the foot-lights.
Physiology of The Opera | John H. Swaby (AKA "Scrici")If you throw away this chance, you will both richly deserve to be hanged, as I sincerely trust you will be.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles Dickens
British Dictionary definitions for both
/ (bəʊθ) /
the two; two considered together: both dogs were dirty
(as pronoun): both are to blame
(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
Origin of both
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with both
In addition to the idioms beginning with both
- both barrels, with
- both feet on the ground, with
also see:
- 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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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