otherwise

American  

[uhth-er-wahyz] / ˈʌð ərˌwaɪz /

adverb

1. under other circumstances.

   Otherwise they may get broken.

2. in another manner; differently.

   Under the circumstances, I can't believe otherwise.

3. in other respects.

   an otherwise happy life.

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conjunction

1. or else; if not.

   Button up your overcoat, otherwise you'll catch cold.

adjective

1. other or different; of another nature or kind.

   We hoped his behavior would be otherwise.

2. in other or different circumstances.

   An otherwise pleasure had become a grinding chore.

otherwise British  

/ ˈʌðəˌwaɪz /

1. or else; if not, then

   go home — otherwise your mother will worry

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adverb

1. differently

   I wouldn't have thought otherwise

2. in other respects

   an otherwise hopeless situation

adjective

1. (predicative) of an unexpected nature; different

   the facts are otherwise

pronoun

1. something different in outcome

   success or otherwise

Usage

The expression otherwise than means in any other way than and should not be followed by an adjective: no-one taught by this method can be other than (not otherwise than ) successful; you are not allowed to use the building otherwise than as a private dwelling

Etymology

Origin of otherwise

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English (on) ōthre wīsan “(in) another manner”; equivalent to other + -wise

Example Sentences

That leaves the market now guessing “when China’s aggressive SPR support will be exhausted or otherwise withdrawn, which would prompt a renewed surge in upward pricing pressure,” he said.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

“And he doesn’t bluff, either. What he does is groom us. He prepares us for things that would otherwise be unthinkable.”

From Salon • May 26, 2026

Besides, D.C. could even offer the DNC a solution to what is otherwise sure to be a process full of hideous legal and political dilemmas.

From Slate • May 26, 2026

Everyone otherwise received current standard care, and researchers followed them for a median of almost four years.

From Science Daily • May 25, 2026

I talk to the guys that play basketball, but otherwise, I keep to myself.

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko