other

American  

[uhth-er] / ˈʌð ər /

adjective

1. additional or further.

   he and one other person.

2. different or distinct from the one or ones already mentioned or implied.

   I'd like to live in some other city.

   The TV show follows the lives of people who are married, single, or other.

   The application gives three gender choices—male, female, and other.

3. different in nature or kind.

   I would not have him other than he is.

4. being the remaining one of two or more.

   the other hand.

5. (used with plural nouns) being the remaining ones of a number.

   the other men;

   some other countries.

6. former; earlier.

   sailing ships of other days.

7. not long past.

   the other night.

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noun

1. the other one.

   Each praises the other.

2. (often initial capital letter) none the other,

   1. a group or member of a group that is perceived as different, foreign, strange, etc..

      Prejudice comes from fear of the other.

   2. a person or thing that is the counterpart of someone or something else.

      the role of the Other in the development of self.

pronoun

1. Usually others other persons or things.

   others in the medical profession.

2. some person or thing else.

   Surely some friend or other will help me.

adverb

1. otherwise; differently (usually followed bythan ).

   We can't collect the rent other than by suing the tenant.

verb (used with object)

1. to perceive or treat (a group or member of a group) as different, foreign, strange, etc..

   Female murderers are othered by characterizing them as psychological oddities.

idioms

1. every other, every alternate.

   a meeting every other week.

other British  

/ ˈʌðə /

determiner

1. 1. (when used before a singular noun, usually preceded by the) the remaining (one or ones in a group of which one or some have been specified)

      I'll read the other sections of the paper later

   2. ( as pronoun; functioning as sing )

      one walks while the other rides

2. (a) different (one or ones from that or those already specified or understood)

   he found some other house

   no other man but you

   other days were happier

3. additional; further

   there are no other possibilities

4. (preceded by every) alternate; two

   it buzzes every other minute

5. 1. apart from; besides

      a lady other than his wife

   2. Archaic form: other from.  different from

      he couldn't be other than what he is

6. archaic nothing else

   I can do no other

7. (preceded by a phrase or word with some) used to add vagueness to the preceding pronoun, noun, noun phrase, or adverb

   some dog or other bit him

   he's somewhere or other

8. conditions being the same or unchanged

9. a few days ago

10. an unexpressed alternative

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pronoun

1. another

   show me one other

2. (plural) additional or further ones

   the police have found two and are looking for others

3. (plural) other people or things

4. the remaining ones (of a group)

   take these and leave the others

5. (plural) different ones (from those specified or understood) See also each other one another

   they'd rather have others, not these

adverb

1. (usually used with a negative and foll by than) otherwise; differently

   they couldn't behave other than they do

other More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing other

• at each other's throats
• do unto others
• each other
• every other
• in one ear and out the other
• in other words
• in someone's pocket (live in each other's pockets)
• laugh out of the other side of one's mouth
• look the other way
• made for (each other)
• none other than
• on the one (the other) hand
• or other
• right (other) side of the tracks
• shoe is on the other foot
• six of one, half a dozen of the other
• the other day
• this and that (and the other)
• turn the other cheek
• wait for the other shoe to drop

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Etymology

Origin of other

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English ōther (pronoun, adjective, and noun); cognate with German ander, Gothic anthar; akin to Sanskrit antara-

Explanation

Use the adjective other to distinguish something as being different or distinct. You might ask your friend if she's coming to the movies with you, or if she has other plans. If you don't get the first job you apply for, you'll have to see if other places are hiring. If you're sweating in the hot summer sunshine, you might want to cross to the other side of the street. Other can take various meanings, from "opposite" to "strange" to "additional." You might also notice other in phrases like "how the other half live," meaning rich versus poor people, or "the other day" — a few days ago.

Example Sentences

Steyer received the backing of 12%, while support for the other top Democrats in the race — former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, Mahan, former L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

Three other people, including a child, were treated for minor injuries.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

We are rewarding technical knowledge and discarding the other two.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

At the start of treatment, after three months, and again after one year, the team recorded body weight, body composition, dietary habits, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, and other health markers.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2026

Tonight, I welcome the cover they’ll provide, whereas on any other night, I’ve feared what they hid, just out of my reach.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• alternative
• more
• new