otherwise

[ uhth-er-wahyz ]

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.

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

/ ˈʌðəˌwaɪz /

sentence connector

1. or else; if not, then

   go home — otherwise your mother will worry

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of otherwise¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English (on) ōthre wīsan “(in) another manner”; equivalent to other + -wise

Word History and Origins

Origin of otherwise¹

C14: from Old English on ōthre wīsan in other manner

Example Sentences

Placed in drinking water, fluoride can serve people who otherwise have poor access to dental care.

From The Daily Beast

If someone wants to ensure a direct and secure connection, no entity, whether a hotel or otherwise, should be able to block it.

From The Daily Beast

Larson, as usual, instills gravitas and agency in an otherwise underwritten character.

From The Daily Beast

Millennials—rich or otherwise—have been notoriously uninterested in politics.

From The Daily Beast

Otherwise, we will be but celebrating an empty holiday, missing its true meaning altogether.

From The Daily Beast

The Majesty on high has a colony and a people on earth, which otherwise is under the supremacy of the Evil One.

From Project Gutenberg

That is the only point in which one sees Liszt's sense of his own greatness; otherwise his manner is remarkably unassuming.

From Project Gutenberg

Rather late that evening we administered extreme unction to him, for otherwise he was sufficiently prepared for it.

From Project Gutenberg

It rather annoyed her than otherwise, but her husband was pleased, and that was enough for Georgie.

From Project Gutenberg

Otherwise, a child's box of tin soldiers sent by post would have been just the thing for the Dardanelles landing!

From Project Gutenberg