both [bohth] ExamplesWord Origin See more synonyms for both on Thesaurus.com adjective
- one and the other; two together: He met both sisters. Both performances were canceled.
pronoun
- the one as well as the other: Both of us were going to the party.
conjunction
- alike; equally: He is both ready and willing.
Origin of both 1125–75; Middle English bothe, bathe, influenced by Scandinavian (compare Old Norse bāthir both; cognate with German, Dutch beide, Gothic ba tho skipa both (the) ships, Old High German bêde *bai thai); replacing Middle English bo, ba, Old English bā; cognate with Gothic bai; akin to Latin ambō, Greek ámphō, Lithuanian abù, Sanskrit ubháu Related Words for both twain Examples from the Web for both Contemporary Examples of both
France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.
LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks
January 9, 2015
That officer fretting about his “stance,” we learn, is plagued by PTSD that cripples him both on the job and at home.
‘Babylon’ Review: The Dumb Lives of Trigger-Happy Cops
Melissa Leon
January 9, 2015
Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails
Jackie Kucinich
January 9, 2015
The use of slurs from both characters makes it clear just how “new” the idea of an openly gay son is even in this time.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist
Judnick Mayard
January 8, 2015
Disordered eating is also linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, both in the present and in the future.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models
Carrie Arnold
January 8, 2015
Historical Examples of both
Later he involved himself in explanations that were both obscure and conflicting.
Harry Leon Wilson
They were both silent for a few moments; and Eudora’s countenance was troubled.
Lydia Maria Child
She helped Geta to escape: they have both taken refuge in the Temple of Theseus.
Lydia Maria Child
Yes—I’m hungry for both, and some of those funny little cakes.
Harry Leon Wilson
Both your ma and Pishy has got more out of it than you have.
Harry Leon Wilson
British Dictionary definitions for both both determiner
-
- the two; two considered togetherboth dogs were dirty
- (as pronoun)both are to blame
conjunction
- (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 includedboth Ellen and Keith enjoyed the play; both new and exciting
Word Origin for both C12: from Old Norse bāthir; related to Old High German bēde, Latin ambō, Greek amphō Word Origin and History for both adj., pron.
there are several theories, all similar, and deriving the word from the tendency to say “both the.” One is that it is Old English begen (masc.) “both” (from Proto-Germanic *ba, from PIE *bho “both”) + -þ extended base. Another traces it to the Proto-Germanic formula represented in Old English by ba þa “both these,” from ba (feminine nominative and accusative of begen) + þa, nominative and accusative plural of se “that.” A third traces it to Old Norse baðir “both,” from *bai thaiz “both the,” from Proto-Germanic *thaiz, third person plural pronoun. Cf. similar formation in Old Frisian bethe, Dutch beide, Old High German beide, German beide, Gothic bajoþs.
Idioms and Phrases with both both
In addition to the idioms beginning with both
also see: