Definition and meaning of English word "otherwise"
otherwise
/oʊˈθərwaɪz/
Meaning
VerbDifferently, in another way.
How to use
The adverb 'otherwise' is often used to indicate a contrast or an alternative. For example, 'I would have gone to the party, otherwise I was busy.' A common learner mistake is to confuse 'otherwise' with 'other than', which has a different meaning. In formal writing, 'otherwise' can also be used to mean 'in a different way' or 'under different circumstances'.
🇬🇧 English
otherwise
Example
If you don't like the movie, you can do otherwise.
If you don't like the food, you can eat otherwise.
Your personal vocabulary
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Common phrases
- or else otherwise— or else otherwise
- otherwise known as— otherwise known as
- otherwise than— otherwise than
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This concept in other languages
Frequency rank: #917 in English
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the English word "otherwise" mean?▼
The English word "otherwise" means "otherwise" in English.
How do you pronounce the English word "otherwise"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "otherwise" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "otherwise"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "If you don't like the movie, you can do otherwise." (which translates as "otherwise").
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