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

Using chips in the Neo that might otherwise be tossed is one way Apple was able to deliver its first entry-level laptop.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

It would complicate what Altman described as an otherwise strong backdrop for the U.S. economy.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

“The fact that there is a day of the week where I know I’ll feel extra alive and that it’s a day that is otherwise not allocated for that is really valuable.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

On the other hand, these aggregators are bringing news stories to audiences who might not be getting them elsewhere – some of the undercover voters wouldn't otherwise be seeing much about politics.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

I was watching Aunt Kitty stitch brown and blue pheasant feathers to an otherwise respectable black-velvet bonnet.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan