each other

American  

pronoun

1. each the other; one another (used as a compound reciprocal pronoun).

   to strike at each other; to hold each other's hands; to love each other.

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each other British  

pronoun

1. used when the action, attribution, etc, is reciprocal

   furious with each other

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each other Idioms  

1. Also, one another. Each one the other, one the other, as in The boys like each other, or The birds were fighting one another over the crumbs. Both of these phrases indicate a reciprocal relationship or action between the subjects preceding (the boys, the birds). Formerly, many authorities held that each other should be confined to a relationship between two subjects only and one another used when there are more than two. Today most do not subscribe to this distinction, which was never strictly observed anyway. [Late 1300s] Also see at each other's throats.

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Usage

Although some insist that each other be used only in reference to two ( The two candidates respected each other ) and one another in reference to three or more ( The three nations threaten one another ), in standard practice they are interchangeable. Each other is not restricted to two, nor is one another restricted to three or more. The possessive of each other is each other's; the possessive of one another is one another's.

Each other and one another are interchangeable in modern British usage

Etymology

Origin of each other

before 1000; Middle English; Old English. See each, other

Compare meaning

How does each-other compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• each other vs. one another

Example Sentences

Lukaku, meanwhile, was not just the gamechanger but also the peacemaker as team-mates Tielemans and Trossard argued with each other during the hydration break in the second half.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

"We can help each other," she said, while also providing the village with nutritious food.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

The characters are left navigating a world where people often turn on each other rather than challenge the systems around them.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026

We still say to each other, “Can you believe this?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

The animals were now busy conversing with each other, the forest once again lively with chatter, but he felt the distinct sensation that they were keeping an eye on him.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• one