What does “or” mean?
- 1
conjunctionused to join possibilities or choices
Would you like tea or coffee?
- 2
conjunctionused to warn about a result if something is not done
Hurry up, or you’ll miss the bus.
Or at a glance
- Part of speech
- conjunction
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ɔr/ · OR
How to use “or” correctly
In negative sentences use “or,” not “and”: “I don’t eat meat or fish.”
Common phrases with “or”
- either… or
- or so
- or else
- more or less
Synonyms, opposites and related words
“or” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- and conjunctionA1used to join words or parts of a sentence
- because conjunctionA1for the reason that
- but conjunctionA1used to add something different or surprising
- if conjunctionA1used to say that something happens only when something else happens
- than conjunctionA1used to compare two things or people
- although conjunctionB1used to introduce an idea that makes the main idea surprising
- nor conjunctionB1used after “neither” to add another negative choice
- though conjunctionB1despite the fact that