each

[eech]

adjective

1. every one of two or more considered individually or one by one.

   each stone in a building; a hallway with a door at each end.

pronoun

1. every one individually; each one.

   Each had a different solution to the problem.

adverb

1. to, from, or for each; apiece.

   They cost a dollar each.

each

/ iːtʃ /

determiner

1. 1. every (one) of two or more considered individually

      each day

      each person

   2. ( as pronoun )

      each gave according to his ability

adverb

1. for, to, or from each one; apiece

   four apples each

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of each¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English eche, Old English ælc, equivalent to ā “ever” ( ay ¹ ) + (ge)līc alike; cognate with Old High German ēo-gilīh, Old Frisian ellīk, Dutch, Low German elk

Word History and Origins

Origin of each¹

Old English ǣlc; related to Old High German ēogilīh, Old Frisian ellik, Dutch elk

Idioms and Phrases

• at each other's throats
• made for (each other)

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Then in Spring, each forms a cocoon before emerging as an adult butterfly to lay its own eggs.

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A study published in Nature highlights how several brain regions work together to reorganize memories over time, with checkpoints that help assess how significant each memory is and how durable it should be.

Read more on Science Daily

Once — say, 20 or 30 years ago — those blow-ups might have been enough to chase each of those embattled candidates from their respective races, and maybe even end their political careers altogether.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Months earlier, in March, farmworkers had used a machine to drop each little plant, grown in a greenhouse, into the moistened soil.

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It is made of more than 1,000 handblown coloured glass tiles, each inlaid with gold leaf, echoing the colours of the cathedral's stained-glass windows.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• all 
• individually 
• respectively 
• separately