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
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
Other contestants then walked out in protest, and Itsaragrisil threatened the contestants to sit down, or else their positions in the pageant would be in jeopardy.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025
At her home day care, Rodriguez employs a group of teachers and caretakers who are, for the most part, either in their twenties and childless or else parents with at least one child enrolled in the day care.
—Lauren Hilgers, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
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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
Other contestants then walked out in protest, and Itsaragrisil threatened the contestants to sit down, or else their positions in the pageant would be in jeopardy.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025
At her home day care, Rodriguez employs a group of teachers and caretakers who are, for the most part, either in their twenties and childless or else parents with at least one child enrolled in the day care.
—Lauren Hilgers, Harpers Magazine, 23 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 15 Dec. 2025.
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