otherwiseconjunction
uk/ˈʌð.ə.waɪz/us/ˈʌð.ɚ.waɪz/B1 used after an order or suggestion to show what the result will be if you do not follow that order or suggestion:
I'd better write it down, otherwise I'll forget it.
Call home, otherwise your parents will start to worry.
More examples
- Come in now, otherwise you'll get wet.
- I'd better tell him about the letter, otherwise he might be angry.
- You'd better hurry, otherwise you'll miss the train.
- Take that chocolate away, otherwise I'll eat it all.
- They had to leave early, otherwise the children would have been up too late.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Either, or, neither, nor
- and
- and/or 2
- either
- else
- neither
- nor
- or
- or else idiom
otherwiseadverb
uk/ˈʌð.ə.waɪz/us/ˈʌð.ɚ.waɪz/otherwise adverb (DIFFERENTLY)
differently, or in another way:
The police believe he is the thief, but all the evidence suggests otherwise (= that he is not).
Under the Bill of Rights, a person is presumed innocent until proved otherwise (= guilty).
Protestors were executed, jailed or otherwise persecuted.
Marion Morrison, otherwise known as the film star John Wayne, was born in 1907.
formal I can't meet you on Tuesday - I'm otherwise engaged/occupied (= doing something else).
More examples
- His phone call was a welcome intrusion into an otherwise tedious morning.
- A tiny mark flawed the otherwise perfect silk shirt.
- She was badly bruised but otherwise unhurt.
- When referees make contentious decisions players are going to be upset, and anyone who thinks otherwise is living in cloud-cuckoo-land.
- Dennis White scored the only goal in an otherwise forgettable match.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Different and difference
- a breath of fresh air idiom
- a whole new ballgame idiom
- a world of difference idiom
- alternative
- another
- clash
- contrary
- differential
- distinction
- distinctive
- distorted
- diverge
- divergence
- divide
- permutation
- refreshing
- several
- step
- sundry
- tangential
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otherwise adverb (NOT INCLUDING)
B2 except for what has just been referred to:
The bike needs a new wheel, but otherwise it's in good condition.
The poor sound quality ruined an otherwise beautiful film.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Excluding
- acid-free
- alienate
- apart
- bar
- barring
- cut
- discount
- exclude
- excluding
- exclusion
- exclusive
- exclusively
- freeze sb out
- hold
- out of it idiom
- outside
- present
- present company excepted idiom
- send
- send sb to Coventry idiom
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Idiom(s)
or otherwise
otherwiseadjective [ after verb ]
uk/ˈʌð.ə.waɪz/us/ˈʌð.ɚ.waɪz/formalused to show that something is completely different from what you think it is or from what was previously stated:
He might have told you he was a qualified electrician, but the truth is quite otherwise.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Different and difference
- a breath of fresh air idiom
- a whole new ballgame idiom
- a world of difference idiom
- alternative
- another
- clash
- contrary
- differential
- distinction
- distinctive
- distorted
- diverge
- divergence
- divide
- permutation
- refreshing
- several
- step
- sundry
- tangential
See more results »