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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

otherwise

That they are both Jewish adds an element of interest to an otherwise repetitive and strident philippic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

I’ve learned which things are worth making myself, which are better left to professionals and how much pleasure a few slightly theatrical details can bring to an otherwise ordinary meal.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

He’d forget names and repeat himself, but he was otherwise fine.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Half a million people voted the 21-year-old into the Chamber of Deputies on October 4, during elections that were otherwise a tough moment for the Brazilian left.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

“Until a lawyer tells me otherwise, nobody talks to Mom. And if she contacts you, tell me immediately.”

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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