or else

phrase

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

And China, which has dismissed accusations of frontier model copying, has called on the US to listen to its business community or else risk putting the US at a further economic disadvantage. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2026

That can’t happen against Washington, or else a brutal five-game stretch, starting with the Ravens in Week 3, could sink playoff hopes. — Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

In high school, everyone would wear socks with their sandals, or else people would clown you. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

That doesn’t mean the Broncos must win Super Bowls every year or else. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2026