Definition of or else
1 —used to say what will happen if something is not doneYou have to leave or else you will be arrested for trespassing.
2 —used to say what another possibility isHe 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 isDo what I say or else!
Comments on or else
What made you want to look up or else? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Musical Words Quiz
- Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share or else