or else

idiom

1

—used to say what will happen if something is not done

You have to leave or else you will be arrested for trespassing.

2

—used to say what another possibility is

He either thinks he can't do it or else he just isn't interested.

3

informal

—used in angry speech to express a threat without saying exactly what the threat is

Do what I say or else!

Examples of or else in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Indeed, voices were repeatedly underpowered, or else conductor Paolo Bressan wasn’t careful enough to keep the orchestra in balance. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 7 Feb. 2026

Instead, the Bucks are intending to see if a future can be crafted in Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo going forward, or else resume trade negotiations either closer to June’s NBA draft or during the next salary-cap calendar that opens July 1. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2026

Vehicles can't park there or else they will be towed. —Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026

Attorneys representing the women have requested that the DOJ commit to removing their identities from millions of publicly available files by noon on Wednesday, or else temporarily take the website down. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026