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
When your moment arrives, capitalize on it, or else.
—
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
He was drawn to detective stories in which the principal investigators must not merely solve a mystery but accommodate themselves to a reality that is too terrible to be believed—or else repress or dissociate from that reality.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
The Hurricanes have a good enough resume to get an at-large berth, but to do so would probably have to surpass Notre Dame (which Miami beat early in the season) or else Alabama (badly outmatched in a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game Saturday).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Dec. 2025
As a result, the Boston Red Sox need to make a huge move in the right direction or else the Blue Jays are going to leave them behind in the AL East.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
He was drawn to detective stories in which the principal investigators must not merely solve a mystery but accommodate themselves to a reality that is too terrible to be believed—or else repress or dissociate from that reality.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
The Hurricanes have a good enough resume to get an at-large berth, but to do so would probably have to surpass Notre Dame (which Miami beat early in the season) or else Alabama (badly outmatched in a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC championship game Saturday).
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Dec. 2025
As a result, the Boston Red Sox need to make a huge move in the right direction or else the Blue Jays are going to leave them behind in the AL East.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 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 21 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share