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conjunction American English pronunciation: or /ɔr/
Other entries for this word
  1. 1
    used for connecting possibilities or choices. In a list, "or" is usually used only before the last possibility or choice

    Which color do you want – red, green, yellow, or blue?

    He's probably at lunch or in a meeting.

    either... or:

    "When will you get the results?" "Either tomorrow or the day after."

    whether... or:

    You don't care whether he lives or dies, do you?

    or not:

    The jury must decide whether the prisoner is guilty or not.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of or
  2. 2
    used for including someone or something else in a negative statement

    She's had nothing to eat or drink all day.

    I never had any help or advice from my parents.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of or
  3. 3
    used between two similar numbers for showing that you do not know what the exact number is
    one or two/two or three/three or four etc.:

    I can photocopy your notes. It'll only take a minute or two.

    The car has to be serviced every five or six thousand miles.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of or
  4. 4
    used for saying what will happen if someone does not do something

    The soldiers told everyone to leave or they would be shot.

    or else:

    We must deal with the problem now, or else it will be too late.

    You'd better do what I say, or else (=I will do something bad to you).

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of or
  5. 5
    used for introducing a comment that corrects or adds more information to what you have just said

    There are six cash machines, or ATMs, in the main airport terminal.

    or rather:

    This is a problem for the government, or rather for a federal agency, to deal with.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of or
  6. 6
    used when you are trying to show that something must be true, by saying that the situation would be different if it was not true

    The candidate obviously hasn't chosen a running mate or he would have made the announcement.

    or else:

    It must be something serious, or else they wouldn't have radioed for help.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of or

phrases

This is the American English definition of or. View British English definition of or.

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