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

See Examples For:

otherwise

The backing by Nvidia would enable SoftBank to raise debt on more favorable terms, the Journal noted, which would otherwise be challenging given how S&P Global has flagged OpenAI as a key credit risk.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

AI-based language analysis may help researchers uncover patterns that would otherwise remain hidden.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026

Other cast members in Mountain include Scottish actor Peter Mullan and Rebecca Lucy Taylor, otherwise known as singer Self Esteem.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Chatbots can help unlock conversations someone with social anxiety might otherwise avoid, she says, but it’s no substitute for real emotional regulation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Rivers and inlets from the sea provide an easy route for incoming waves, carrying tsunamis much farther inland than they could otherwise travel.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland