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

In reality, the two are complementary: Quantum systems are expected to act as powerful supplements, tackling problems that would otherwise take prohibitive time, energy, or processing power to solve.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

“But if the President’s interested in it, that might spur them a little more than it might otherwise, but we just don’t know,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Previously known as cot death, Sids is the sudden and unexplained death during sleep of an otherwise healthy baby aged up to 12 months.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Henry Harteveldt, founder of the airline advisory firm Atmosphere Research Group, said Spirit’s strategy helped open up air travel to a broader swath of the public that wouldn’t be able to afford flights otherwise.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 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