How do you use the word "either" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "either": I can't explain it either. You may take either the big box or the small one.

Either Meaning

/ˈaɪ.ðə/

Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

detAny one (of two).

detEach of two; both.

Sentence Examples

I can't explain it either.

You may take either the big box or the small one.

You can park on either side of the street.

CEFR Practice Quiz

You can choose ____ the blue shirt or the red one.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

I can't explain it ____.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English either, from Old English ǣġhwæþer, from Proto-West Germanic *aiw + *gahwaþar. Akin to Old Saxon eogihwethar, iahwethar (Low German jeed); Old Dutch *iogewether, *iowether, *iother (Dutch ieder); Old High German eogihwedar, iegihweder, ieweder (German jeder). The pronunciations with /iː/ and /eɪ/ respectively reflect Middle English forms in /ɛː/ and /æi/; the origin of that with /aɪ/ is less clear, but it may reflect a Middle English form with /iː/; see Middle English either for more discussion.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played." — 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

"Her hands, long and beautiful, lay on either side of her face." — 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber, published 2007, page 31:

"They entreat, they pray, they beg, they supplicate (will either of these do, Miss Clary?) that you will make no scruple to go to your uncle Antony's […]." — 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter LI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; [a]nd sold by John Osborn, […], →OCLC:

"Hodgson may now have to bring in James Milner on the left and, on that basis, a certain amount of gloss was taken off a night on which Welbeck scored twice but barely celebrated either before leaving the pitch angrily complaining to the Slovakian referee." — 2013 September 7, Daniel Taylor, “Danny Welbeck leads England's rout of Moldova but hit by Ukraine ban”, in The Guardian:

"Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three." — a. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC:

Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words