both

[ bohth ]

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

/ 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 new and exciting

   both Ellen and Keith enjoyed the play

Word History and Origins

Origin of both¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of both¹

C12: from Old Norse bāthir ; related to Old High German bēde , Latin ambō , Greek amphō

Idioms and Phrases

• 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

Example Sentences

Unbeknown to them both, their sons had met up and were going out to get some food.

From BBC

A 15-year-old boy admitted murdering Mason but denied killing Max, however a jury at Bristol Crown Court found each member of the group guilty of both murders.

From BBC

“Try starting with both your arms straight,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Fisher, third in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in the Paris Olympics, called Grand Slam Track “the future of the sport.”

From Los Angeles Times

He did defend Trump on television and he and Trump share an antipathy for the Justice Department having both been criminally investigated.

From Salon