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

Glyn’s older sister, Lady Duff-Gordon, otherwise known as the couturier Lucile, immediately forged relationships with actresses—Billie Burke, for instance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

His oldest son, Noah, 18, said that he had forced himself to confront his father’s death, however painful it was, because doing otherwise was “not honoring him and what he went through.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

I'll find tunes I wouldn't have discovered otherwise.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

Cruise’s ambition is moot if he’s otherwise resigned himself to crowd-pleasers, making his occasional enterprising choices look even more daring.

From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026

Phineas has a huge scar on his forehead and a small scar under his cheekbone, but otherwise he is physically healed.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman