Both

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: bōth, IPA: /bəʊθ/
• US enPR: bōth, IPA: /boʊθ/
• some accents enPR: bōlth, IPA: /boÊŠlθ/
• Rhymes: -əʊθ

Alternative forms

• bothe (archaic)

Origin

From Middle English boþe, from Old Norse báðir

Full definition of both

Determiner

1. Each of the two; one and the other.
• Bible, Genesis xxi. 27Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
• BolingbrokeHe will not bear the loss of his rank, because he can bear the loss of his estate; but he will bear both, because he is prepared for both.
• 2013-07-19, Ian Sample, Irregular bedtimes may affect children's brains, Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits.  ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.
2. "Did you want this one or that one?" "Give me both."
   Both children are such dolls.
3. (obsolete) Each of more than two.
• Oliver GoldsmithBoth mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound.
• Samuel Taylor ColeridgeHe prayeth well who loveth well both man and bird and beast.

Conjunction

1. including both (used with and)Both you and I are students