determiner / pronoun
both
The two people or things together.
She takes both bags because neither one is very heavy.
Etymology
Old English bā referred to two taken together. Both preserves that dual reference, gathering the members of a pair into a single statement or group.
More examples
- Both of the children can swim.
- We tried the two routes and liked both.
- The tickets admit both adults together.
Forms
both
Similar words
- all
- All can cover any number; both specifically covers two.