otherwise

1 of 3

pronoun

oth·​er·​wise ˈə-t͟hər-ˌwīz 

: something or anything else : something to the contrary

was ordered to testify and could not do otherwise

otherwise

2 of 3

adverb

1

: in a different way or manner

glossed over or otherwise handled

—Playboy

All shows begin at 8:00 unless otherwise noted.

2

: in different circumstances

might otherwise have left

The test helps identify problems that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

3

: in other respects

an otherwise flimsy farce

—Current Biography

I didn't like the ending, but otherwise it was a very good book.

The patient had a foot problem, but she was otherwise healthy.

4

: if not

do what I tell you, otherwise you'll be sorry

Tickets can be bought in advance at a discount; otherwise they can be purchased at the door for full price.

5

: not

—paired with an adjective, adverb, noun, or verb to indicate its contrary or to suggest an indefinite alternative

people whose deeds, admirable or otherwise

—John Fischer

almost thirty thousand women, Irish and otherwise

—J. M. Burns

his opinion as to the success or otherwise of it

—Australian Dictionary of Biography

otherwise

3 of 3

adjective

: different

if conditions were otherwise

Synonyms

Adverb

• else
• differently

Examples of otherwise in a Sentence

Adverb

All of the books had been burned or otherwise destroyed.

The women talked in the living room while the men were otherwise occupied.

Art allows us to express things that we would not be able to express otherwise.

Something must be wrong; otherwise, he would have called.

The test helps identify problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.

One of the boys has a freckle on his cheek. Otherwise, the twins are nearly identical.

I didn't like the ending, but otherwise it was a very good book.

Adjective

If conditions were otherwise, I wouldn't be so worried.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

The episode is a humble (in all the best ways) slice-of-life snapshot — specifically, of Black life in a part of Chicago rarely shown in the series, which is otherwise hyperfocused on the Berzatto family on the city’s north side. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025

But this summer some people, like NHL agent Allan Walsh, seem to think otherwise. —Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 9 July 2025

Adjective

And the Trump administration, on its way out the door, vetoed the otherwise consensus selection of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the organization’s next director general. —Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2021

Race might have been a dynamic tool to enrich an otherwise vanilla plot. —Naveen Kumar, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun, Adverb, and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English (on) ōthre wīsan in another manner

First Known Use

Pronoun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing otherwise

• and otherwise
• know different/otherwise
• or otherwise
• otherwise engaged
• otherwise known as

Rhymes for otherwise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

otherwise

adverb

oth·​er·​wise

ˈə-t͟hər-ˌwīz

1

: in a different way : differently

could not do otherwise

2

: in different circumstances

otherwise we might have won

3

: in other respects

the otherwise busy street