otherwise

pronoun

oth·er·wise | \ ˈə-t͟hər-ˌwīz

Definition of otherwise

(Entry 1 of 3)

: something or anything else : something to the contrary was ordered to testify and could not do otherwise

otherwise

adverb

Definition of otherwise (Entry 2 of 3)

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 Fischeralmost thirty thousand women, Irish and otherwise— J. M. Burnshis opinion as to the success or otherwise of it — Australian Dictionary of Biography

otherwise

adjective

Definition of otherwise (Entry 3 of 3)

: different if conditions were otherwise

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about otherwise

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Synonyms & Antonyms for otherwise

Synonyms: Adverb

differently, else, other (than)

Antonyms: Adverb

likewise

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

This Energy-star certified model super user-friendly, counter-depth or otherwise. — Betty Gold, Good Housekeeping, "7 Best Counter-Depth Refrigerators to Buy in 2019, Reviewed By Kitchen Appliance Experts," 27 Feb. 2019 Getty Images Getty Images The tongue-flashing was just a temporary pause in their otherwise sophisticated display, and the couple looked the picture of elegance and happiness two months after their lavish wedding celebrations. — Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, "Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas Got Their Tongues Out at the Oscars Vanity Fair Party," 25 Feb. 2019 Enter: fluoride, a mineral that can reverse tooth decay that would otherwise become a cavity, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is It Actually Possible to Get Rid of Cavities Without Fillings?," 17 Oct. 2018 The solution: Make a neat bundle of what can otherwise quickly become a hot mess. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "7 Humidity-Proof Hair Ideas That Will Up Your Summer Beauty Game," 4 Aug. 2018 This may well turn out to be a victory for workers, exploited or otherwise, but perhaps not in the way progressives intend. — Andy Puzder, WSJ, "How to Liberate Amazon Workers," 20 Feb. 2019 Some designers have taken the idea further by enlisting couples—real-life or otherwise—to model their clothes. — Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, "When Designers Play Cupid: 18 of Our Favorite “Couple” Moments on the Runway," 14 Feb. 2019 For example, as the Washington Post noted, the Trump hotel might be receiving business that would otherwise have gone to the Washington Convention Center or a hotel in Maryland, both of which are subsidized by their state governments. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Why the government shutdown is good legal news for Trump," 27 Dec. 2018 The 14-inch Gram loses one of the USB-A ports, but otherwise, both share a headphone jack, microSD slot, a full-size HDMI output, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. — Shannon Liao, The Verge, "LG officially announces its ultralight 17-inch Gram laptop," 12 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'otherwise.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.