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

Other players, however, insist that disarmament must commence first, or else any political process will be subjected to Hamas’s interference, and to arm-twisting by those who can exert influence with their guns and tunnels. —Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025

The player also must remain on the new club’s 26-man roster for the entire season or else they will be placed on waivers. —Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

Need some looser apparel for rounding out your loungewear collection (or else wearing to yin yoga classes)? —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 30 Oct. 2025

Perhaps the dog was trying to help, or else just being nosey about who else was traveling on the flight. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025