otherwise
conjunction
- in another way
- or else
pronoun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L333970 on Wikidata ↗adjective
- be other than as expected
adverb
- differently
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈʌð.əˌwaɪz/ / /ˈʌð.ɚˌwaɪz/
adj
Etymology: From Middle English otherwise, othre wise, from Old English on ōþre wīsan (literally “in (on) other/different manner”); equivalent to other + -wise. Compare West Frisian yn oarwei (“otherwise”), Icelandic öðruvísi (“different”).
- Other than supposed; different.
“He said he didn’t do it, but the evidence was otherwise.”
“Statistics need lots of information, digital and otherwise.”
adv
Etymology: From Middle English otherwise, othre wise, from Old English on ōþre wīsan (literally “in (on) other/different manner”); equivalent to other + -wise. Compare West Frisian yn oarwei (“otherwise”), Icelandic öðruvísi (“different”).
- Differently, in another way.
“Near-synonyms: contrarily, contrastingly”
“You may have a point, but I think otherwise.”
- In different circumstances; or else.
“I’m not well today, otherwise I would have helped.”
“You have to open your umbrella, otherwise you'll get wet.”
- In all other respects; apart from that; except for this.
“He lost his temper once in a while. Otherwise he behaved rationally.”
“There was one rotten apple in an otherwise perfect batch.”