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
Billboard does have a rule in place that states any track that has racked up 52 stays (an entire year) on the roster must live above the No. 25 position, or else it's removed.
—
Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
And find ways to feel accomplished and realize your own return on investment, or else the grind won’t be worth it.
—Jessica Sibley, Time, 9 June 2025
Her fate is in the hands of her brother-in-law, Bashir, the final arbiter of a seemingly impossible decision: At his word, Tahereh can be executed or else Bashir and his family can negotiate blood money, payment in exchange for his mercy.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
Judge Arun Subramanian angrily admonished the defense team and demanded Combs stop making faces at the jury, or else he would be kicked out of court.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
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Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
And find ways to feel accomplished and realize your own return on investment, or else the grind won’t be worth it.
—Jessica Sibley, Time, 9 June 2025
Her fate is in the hands of her brother-in-law, Bashir, the final arbiter of a seemingly impossible decision: At his word, Tahereh can be executed or else Bashir and his family can negotiate blood money, payment in exchange for his mercy.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
Judge Arun Subramanian angrily admonished the defense team and demanded Combs stop making faces at the jury, or else he would be kicked out of court.
—Nbc News, NBC news, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
Cite this Entry
“Or else.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20else. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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