each other

Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.

each other

pron.

Each the other. Used to indicate that a relationship or an action is reciprocal among the members of the set referred to by the antecedent: The boys like each other.

Usage Note: According to a traditional rule, each other denotes a reciprocal relation between two entities, and one another refers to more than two. This rule requires Dick and Maggie gave each other a knowing look and The members of the graduating class applauded one another. Most of the Usage Panel favors the rule. In our 2005 survey, 86 percent (up from 64 percent in 1987) reported limiting the reference of each other to two things in their own writing. In 2009, 84 percent accepted one another in the graduating class example above, but only 56 percent accepted each other. Still, the rule is often ignored without causing confusion and should be regarded more as a stylistic preference than a norm of Standard English. Many people maintain a further stylistic distinction between the two expressions by using one another when an ordered series of events or stages is involved, as in The waiters followed one another into the room. · The possessive forms of each other and one another are each other's and one another's: The boys wore each other's (not each others') coats. They had forgotten one another's (not one anothers') names.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

each other

pron

used when the action, attribution, etc, is reciprocal: furious with each other.

Usage: Each other and one another are interchangeable in modern British usage

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

each` oth′er

pron.

each the other; one another (used as a compound reciprocal pronoun): to love each other; to hold each other's hands; to talk to each other.

[before 1000]

usage: Usage guides advise that each other be used only of two, and one another only of three or more or of an indefinite number. In standard practice, however, these expressions are used interchangeably, without distinction as to number.

each other

– one another

1. uses

You use each other or one another to show that each member of a group does something to or for the other members. For example, if Simon likes Louise and Louise likes Simon, you say that Simon and Louise like each other or like one another. Each other and one another are sometimes called reciprocal pronouns.

Each other and one another are usually the direct or indirect object of a verb.

We help each other a lot.

They sent one another gifts from time to time.

You can also use them as the object of a preposition.

Pierre and Thierry were jealous of each other.

They didn't dare to look at one another.

2. possessives

You can form possessives by adding 's to each other and one another.

I hope that you all enjoy each other's company.

Apes spend a great deal of time grooming one another's fur.

3. differences

There is very little difference in meaning between each other and one another. One another is fairly formal, and many people do not use it at all. Some people prefer to use each other when they are talking about two people or things, and one another when they are talking about more than two. However, most people do not make this distinction.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

Translations

بَعْضَهمـا

hinanden

einander sich

el uno al otro mutuamente nos os se

toisensa

l'un l'autre mutuellement réciproquementl’un l’autrel’une l’autre

egymás

hvor/hver annan

navzájom

varandra

birbirinebirbirini

互相

each

(iːtʃ) adjective

every (thing, person etc) of two or more, considered separately. each house in this street.

pronoun

every single one, of two or more. They each have 50 cents.

adverb

to or for each one; apiece; I gave them an apple each.

each other

used as the object when an action takes place between two (loosely, more than two) people etc. They wounded each other.

each is singular: Each of them has (not have) a bag in his hand .

References in classic literature ?

Both knew each other: the boy was that one among the children who could not come because he had to go home and return his jacket and boots to the innkeeper's son.

They ran towards each other, and stood together hand in hand in the vast church of nature and of poetry, while over them sounded the invisible holy bell: blessed spirits floated around them, and lifted up their voices in a rejoicing hallelujah!

View in context

One leaves the intentions to the only One who knows them: Allah the Almighty, for He did not command us to check each other's hearts and intentions, and thus we have to avoid harboring ill-thoughts about others.

Thinking Well of Others Relieves Heart

They help me remain open to the needs of others, recognizing that we have a powerful role to play in nurturing each other's faith.

Got a light? The flame of faith burns brighter when a community of candles comes together

In her research, prosocial and social responsibility goal pursuit were moderately to highly correlated with each other and with several other variables such as students' effort (Wentzel, 1994, 1996).

Students' social goals and outcomes

Think about how children play and work out conflicts with each other. When you observe them at different ages, both boys and girls can be very physical with each other.

Successful bully prevention and management isn't rocket science

Through SDI familiar with our own types, the types of others, and how those types interact with each other, are motivated, and respond to stress, we see a powerful positive effect on communication, alignment and reduced stress as we work toward effective balance in our relationship with others.

What's your type and why does it matter?

As a result of their lifelong love and commitment to each other, black family value system, the black community and human rights, they arrived into the 21st century as honored artists who had not only paid their dues, but also rewrote the dues-paying book.

Catch the keynote, Ossie Davis: a mighty laborer in the field of the arts, a majestic voice for integrity has gone on ahead

This involves forgiving ourselves as well as each other.

Peacemakers must walk the talk

"They would spend the night at each other's houses.

Power to his people

Enemies naturally regard each other as evil, but even if one's enemy is truly evil that natural good versus evil dichotomy obscures the not so natural nature of evil.

Chosinness and the Theology of Terror

As both societies and subsistence activities become more complex, males and females assume new forms of cooperation with each other in both economic and family life.