otherwise

[uhth-er-wahyz]

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.

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

/ ˈʌðəˌwaɪz /

1. or else; if not, then

   go home — otherwise your mother will worry

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of otherwise¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of otherwise¹

C14: from Old English on ōthre wīsan in other manner

Example Sentences

“We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned with the health risk this poses for expecting mothers.”

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That’s thanks partly to his mother, who otherwise afforded him vast room for creativity.

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To think otherwise is not to have a clue.

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If curators believe otherwise, then they should not be working for a national museum.

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It remains available on streaming versions of earlier releases, but its absence here is a gaping hole in an otherwise extraordinary set.

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