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

Let's work faster, otherwise we'll have to stay late.

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 of otherwise

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

While Guo reiterated China’s position on sensitive topics such as Taiwan – a self-ruling island democracy that Beijing claims as its own territory – his statement was otherwise cautiously neutral, lacking the vitriol that often characterizes Chinese responses to US policy. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025

Ray insisted his brother-in-law has no criminal record, but the Department of Homeland Security says otherwise. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Yellow and reds can cut through the otherwise tans and browns of the surrounding landscape. —Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 6 Dec. 2025

Still others have no purpose other than to distract Hedda from an otherwise purposeless life, just ginning up your run-of-the-mill ritualized humiliations that involve see-through garments, booze, inexplicably missing items, and literal guns on the mantle. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025

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