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
To find a cooling shelter in your community, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration advises residents to call 2-1-1 or else 886-211-9966.
—
Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
In Pursuit of Beauty couldn’t help but be influenced by my day job as a journalist at THR, whether in my complicated encounters with mercurial, larger-than-life subjects not unlike my doctor protagonist (Heidi Fleiss, Angelyne) or else through other socio-anthropological reporting ventures.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
When each number was called out, the actors needed to form groups of that number, or else their character would be killed off.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 June 2025
The administration had been given until 9:30 a.m. Friday to file an appeal, or else the preliminary injunction would go into effect.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for or else
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Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
In Pursuit of Beauty couldn’t help but be influenced by my day job as a journalist at THR, whether in my complicated encounters with mercurial, larger-than-life subjects not unlike my doctor protagonist (Heidi Fleiss, Angelyne) or else through other socio-anthropological reporting ventures.
—Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2025
When each number was called out, the actors needed to form groups of that number, or else their character would be killed off.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 13 June 2025
The administration had been given until 9:30 a.m. Friday to file an appeal, or else the preliminary injunction would go into effect.
—Andy Rose, CNN Money, 13 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 1 Jul. 2025.
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