orconjunction
ukstrong /ɔːr/weak /ər/us/ɔːr//ɚ/or conjunction (POSSIBILITIES)
A1 used to connect different possibilities:
Is it Tuesday or Wednesday today?
You can pay now or when you come back to pick up the paint.
Are you listening to me or not?
The patent was granted in (either) 1962 or 1963 - I can't quite remember which.
It doesn't matter whether you win or lose - it's taking part that's important.
There were ten or twelve (= approximately that number of) people in the room.
He was just kidding - or was he (= but it is possible that he was not)?
A2 used after a negative verb to mean not one thing and also not another:
The child never smiles or laughs.
Compare
nor
More examples
- If the product doesn't work, you are given the choice of a refund or a replacement.
- Are the photos in colour or black and white?
- Are you comfortable or shall I turn the heat down?
- You can move the cursor either by using the mouse or by using the arrow keys on the keyboard.
- Is it my imagination or is David behaving strangely at the moment?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Either, or, neither, nor
- and
- and/or 2
- either
- else
- neither
- nor
- or else idiom
- otherwise
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Linguistics: connecting words which express a contrast
or conjunction (IF NOT)
B1 if not:
You should eat more, or you'll make yourself ill.
More examples
- "Clear off or I'll call the police!"
- Do your coat up, Joe, or you'll freeze.
- Are you comfortable or shall I turn the heat down?
- Come on, stir yourselves, or you'll be late!
- I heard him shout "Stop, or I'll shoot!"
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Either, or, neither, nor
- and
- and/or 2
- either
- else
- neither
- nor
- or else idiom
- otherwise
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Linguistics: connecting words which express a contrast
or conjunction (EXPLAIN)
B2 used to show that a word or phrase means the same as, or explains, limits, or corrects, another word or phrase:
Rosalind, or Roz to her friends, took the initiative.
Things have been going very well recently. Or they were, until two days ago.
More examples
- I'll do it later. Or, at least I'll try to do it.
- Football, or soccer as it's sometimes called, is very popular in the country.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: relative forms
- howsoever
- that
- what
- whatever
- whence
- whenever
- where
- whereby
- wheresoever
- wherever
- which
- whichever
- whither
- who
- whoever
- whom
- whomever
- whose
- whosoever
- wot
Idiom(s)
or no
or so
or two