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

“When support is extended across the income distribution, it sustains demand that firms can then use to pass on higher costs—forcing monetary policy to tighten more than it otherwise would,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

“We’re just building the world, so you need some rules, otherwise all the inanimate objects can start talking,” Plaza says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

According to Touma, these same processes may remove multiple planets from binary systems, especially those that would otherwise be detectable by missions like Kepler or TESS.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

"National security is not a blank cheque to proceed with otherwise unlawful activity," he wrote.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 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