You use both when you are referring to two people or things and saying that something is true about each of them.
She cried out in fear and flung both arms up to protect her face.
Put both vegetables into a bowl and crush with a potato masher.
Both is also a quantifier.
Both of these women have strong memories of the Vietnam War. [+ of]
We're going to Andreas's Boutique to pick out something original for both of us.
Both is also a pronoun.
Miss Brown and her friend, both from Stoke, were arrested on the 8th of June.
Will there be public-works programmes, or community service, or both?
Both is also an emphasizing pronoun.
He visited the Institute of Neurology in Havana where they both worked.
'Well, I'll leave you both, then,' said Gregory.
Both is also a predeterminer.
[emphasis]
Both the band's writers are fascinating lyricists.
Both the horses were out, tacked up and ready to ride.
2. conjunction
You use the structure both...and when you are giving two facts or alternatives and emphasizing that each of them is true or possible.
Now women work both before and after having their children.
Any such action would have to be approved by both American and Saudi leaders.
English Easy Learning GrammarDeterminersDeterminers are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say ‘thiscar’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarIndefinite pronounsThe indefinite pronouns are used when you do not know or do not need to say preciselywho or what you are referring to. The noun phrase which they substitute ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarNoun phrases with several determinersMost noun phrases contain only one determiner or none at all, but if there are more,they follow a definite order. Determiners can be divided into four ... Read more
both in British English
(bəʊθ)
determiner
1.
a.
the two; two considered together
both dogs were dirty
b.
(as pronoun)
both are to blame
conjunction
2. (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 she and her sister enjoyed the play
both new and exciting
Word origin
C12: from Old Norse bāthir; related to Old High German bēde, Latin ambō, Greek amphō
both in American English
(boʊθ)
adjective, pronoun
1.
the two; the one and the other
both birds sang loudly; both were small; both of them were tired
conjunction, adverb
2.
together; equally; as well
used correlatively with and
both tired and hungry
Word origin
ME bothe < OE ba tha, both these < ba, fem. nom. & acc. of begen, both + tha, nom. & acc. pl. of se, that, the: akin to ON bathir, OS bethia, MDu bede, Ger beide: see ambi-
Examples of 'both' in a sentence
both
Sources close to both companies played down the idea of a merger last night.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
They both talk about a rotten establishment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In both cases the people have spoken.
The Sun (2016)
You can turn a challenging relationship into one that works well for both of you.
The Sun (2016)
To have two chief advisers both paid that seems excessive.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is just a natural footballer and he can also kick with both feet.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were both true to themselves, the victims of their age.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Both enjoy partying and clubbing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We can both play a lot better.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We have to get the best people of both businesses working together.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Both are masterly works in different veins.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Both use regular shapes and pure colours.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There were two conditions in both studies.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
They also chose churches both large and small.
Christianity Today (2000)
There are those more concerned with liberty and those more anxious about security in both parties.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We have habits of both thought and action.
Austin, Valerie Self-Hypnosis (1994)
With a neutral third party you can both pour out your feelings in a safe place.
The Sun (2008)
They both handed in their notices the day they received their cheque.
The Sun (2008)
Those two things cannot both be true.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Both teams played well and were very positive.
The Sun (2011)
Running beneath both reactions are two deeper issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The animals also have both male and female organs.
The Sun (2013)
Both need about four years to reach their best.
Jepson, Tim Umbria - the green heart of Italy (1989)
Restless feelings are transformed into positive action and both work and fitness plans are involved.
The Sun (2011)
You both work hard and your husband is looking to build for your future with his new business.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
both
British English: both /bəʊθ/ DETERMINER
You use both to mean two people or two things together.
He put both books in the drawer.
American English: both
Arabic: كِلا
Brazilian Portuguese: ambos
Chinese: 两者
Croatian: obojica
Czech: oba
Danish: begge
Dutch: beide
European Spanish: ambos
Finnish: molemmat
French: les deux
German: beide
Greek: αμφότεροι
Italian: entrambi
Japanese: 両方の
Korean: 양쪽의
Norwegian: både
Polish: obaj
European Portuguese: ambos
Romanian: ambii
Russian: оба
Latin American Spanish: ambos
Swedish: båda
Thai: ทั้งสอง
Turkish: her iki
Ukrainian: обидва
Vietnamese: cả hai
British English: both /bəʊθ/ PRONOUN
You use both when you are saying that something is true about two people or things.
The woman and her friend, both aged 50, were arrested.
American English: both
Arabic: كِلا
Brazilian Portuguese: ambos
Chinese: 双方
Croatian: oba
Czech: oba
Danish: begge
Dutch: beide
European Spanish: ambos
Finnish: molemmat
French: les deux
German: beide
Greek: και οι δύο
Italian: entrambi
Japanese: 両方
Korean: 양쪽
Norwegian: begge
Polish: oba
European Portuguese: ambos
Romanian: amândoi
Russian: оба
Latin American Spanish: ambos
Swedish: båda
Thai: เหมือนกัน
Turkish: her ikisi de
Ukrainian: і той і інший
Vietnamese: cả hai
All related terms of 'both'
both ways
→ another term for each way
both camps
You can refer to a group of people who all support a particular person, policy, or idea as a particular camp .
both parents
Your parents are your mother and father .
cut both ways
to have two different effects, usually one good and one bad
in both cases
A particular case is a particular situation or incident , especially one that you are using as an individual example or instance of something.
swing both ways
to be bisexual
to cut both ways
If you say that something cuts both ways , you mean that it can have two opposite effects , or can have both good and bad effects.
have it both ways
to try to get the best of a situation, argument, etc, by chopping and changing between alternatives or opposites
give someone both barrels
to attack or criticize someone fiercely and aggressively
jump in with both feet
to enter into an activity or venture wholeheartedly
the best of both worlds
If you say that someone has the best of both worlds , you mean that they have only the benefits of two things and none of the disadvantages .
have a foot in both camps
to support or belong to two different groups, without making a firm commitment to either of them
the worst of both worlds
all the problems and disadvantages of two different things without any of the benefits and advantages
burn the candle at both ends
to try to do too much, by regularly going to bed very late and getting up early in the morning
you can't have it both ways
If someone says that you can't have it both ways , they are telling you that you have to choose between two things and cannot do or have them both.
play both ends against the middle
to pretend to support or favour two opposing people or ideas in order to gain an advantage from a situation
take one's courage in both hands
to nerve oneself to perform an action
to burn the candle at both ends
If you burn the candle at both ends , you try to do too many things in too short a period of time so that you have to stay up very late at night and get up very early in the morning to get them done.
make ends meet
to be able to pay for the things you need in life, often with very little money
talk out of both sides of your mouth
to give completely different advice or opinions about something in different situations
Chinese translation of 'both'
both
(bəuθ)
adj
两(兩)者都 (liǎngzhě dōu)
⇒ Both policies make good sense.两项政策都很有道理。 (Liǎng xiàng zhèngcè dōu hěn yǒu dàolǐ.)
pron
(= things) 两(兩)者 (liǎngzhě)
⇒ Most of them speak English or German or both.他们大都会说英语或者德语，或者两种语言都会。 (Tāmen dà dōu huì shuō yīngyǔ huòzhě déyǔ, huòzhě liǎng zhǒng yǔyán dōu huì.)
(= people) 两(兩)个(個) (liǎng gè)
⇒ He's fond of you both.你们两个他都喜欢。 (Nǐmen liǎng gè tā dōu xǐhuan.)
conj
both A and BA和B两(兩)者都 (A hé B liǎngzhě dōu)
both (of them)(他们(們))两(兩)个(個)都 ((tāmen) liǎng gè dōu)
both of us went or we both went我们(們)两(兩)个(個)都去了 (wǒmen liǎng gè dōuqù le)
they saw both of us我们(們)两(兩)个(個)他们(們)都见(見)了 (wǒmen liǎng gè tāmen dōu jiàn le)
All related terms of 'both'
both A and B
A和B两(兩)者都 A hé B liǎngzhě dōu
they saw both of us
我们(們)两(兩)个(個)他们(們)都见(見)了 wǒmen liǎng gè tāmen dōu jiàn le