otherwiseoth‧er‧wise /ˈʌðəwaɪz $ ˈʌðər-/ ●●● S1 W2 adverb 
You’ll have to go now, otherwise you’ll miss your bus. Put your coat on, otherwise you’ll get cold.► see thesaurus at if2[sentence adverb] used when saying what would have happened or might have happened if something else had not happened: We were delayed at the airport. Otherwise we would have been here by lunch time. They got two free tickets to Canada, otherwise they’d never have been able to afford to go.3 say/think/decide etc otherwise to say, think, or decide something different: The government claims that the economy is improving, but this survey suggests otherwise. A lot of people think otherwise.4except for what has just been mentioned: He was tired but otherwise in good health.[sentence adverb] I could hear the distant noise of traffic. Otherwise all was still.[+adjective/adverb] This spoiled an otherwise excellent piece of work. Their arrival livened up an otherwise dull afternoon.5or otherwise especially British English used to refer to the opposite of what has just been mentioned: We welcome any comments from viewers, favourable or otherwise. The truth or otherwise of this diagnosis would be revealed in the future.6otherwise engaged formal busy doing something else: I’m afraid I will be otherwise engaged that day.7otherwise known as also called: Albert DeSalvo, otherwise known as the Boston Strangler8formal in a different way: people who smoke or otherwise abuse their bodies9it cannot be otherwise/how can it be otherwise? formal used to say that it is impossible for something to be different from the way it is: Life in the military is hard – how can it be otherwise?
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- An inspection of the building revealed faults that might otherwise have been overlooked.
- I'm glad you told me about the show being cancelled. Otherwise I'd have travelled all the way to Glasgow for nothing.
- It can't have been anything important, otherwise she'd have called back.
- She must have missed the train, otherwise she'd be here by now.
- Stir the sauce until it cools, otherwise it will be lumpy.
- The police stressed that Straskow would be considered innocent until proved otherwise.
- The situation was very serious indeed, even if the government tried to pretend otherwise.
- You should type it; otherwise, they won't be able to read it.
- But try to persuade him otherwise.
- It is equally vital that both should be mentioned, otherwise a client, particularly a buyer, could be seriously misled.
- One third of the doctors believed otherwise.
- Section references below are to the Companies Act 1985 unless otherwise indicated.
- She did not rant or rave or otherwise make a spectacle of herself.
- Similarly, an increase in the supply of money will have real output effects whether it is anticipated or otherwise.
- Unless otherwise specified, all fields have a maximum length of 20 characters, including colons, square brackets, etc.
THESAURUS
used when talking about the possibility that something might happen or be true: · He faces a long prison sentence if the court finds him guilty.· If scientists’ predictions are correct, average global temperatures could rise by 6 degrees.
if something does not happen, or if someone does not do something: · The star is difficult to see unless the sky is very clear.· Doctors said they could not treat the boy unless his parents gave their permission.
used when saying that it does not matter if something happens or not, or if something is true or not: · Most people will get better on their own, whether or not they receive medical treatment.· I’m still going, whether she likes it or not.
used when saying that there will be a bad result if someone does not do something, or if something does not happen: · Drink plenty of water – otherwise you will become dehydrated.
in order to deal with something that might happen: · She did not think it would rain, but she took her umbrella just in case.· It is best to keep a medical kit ready in case of emergency.
only if something else happens or is true: · Visitors are welcome, as long as they bring their own tent.· Anyone can join the course, provided that there is space available.· As long as you can find a computer, you can access an internet-based bank account wherever you are.
used when you agree to do something only if someone first agrees to do something else: · He was offered the job on condition that he went on a month-long training course.
Longman Language Activatorin a different way · The words "through' and "threw' sound the same, but they are spelled differently.· These three chemicals react to heat in slightly different ways.· He started to treat me in a different way once we got married.differently/in a different way from · I always felt that my parents treated me differently from my brothers and sisters.see/look at something differently (=have a different opinion) · I believe you, but I think the police might see it differently.
using a different method or system: · Their organization was run along different lines to ours.
if you do, say, or think otherwise , you do, say, or think something different from what has already been mentioned: · The situation was very serious indeed, even if the government tried to pretend otherwise.· The police stressed that Straskow would be considered innocent until proved otherwise.
if something does not happen · Your car should be ready by 12 o'clock, but if not I'll let you know.· If you don't leave now, I'll call the police.· Try these gloves on. If they're not the right size I'll take them back.if not, why not? spoken (=used to ask why something has not happened or why someone has not done something) · Have you done your homework yet? If not, why not?
use this to say that something will happen if something else does not change the situation: · Unless the weather improves, we will have to cancel the game.· You won't pass your examinations unless you study hard.· Milk quickly turns sour, unless it's refrigerated.
use this when there will be a bad result if someone does not do something or if something does not happen: · Stir the sauce until it cools, otherwise it will be lumpy.· I'm glad you told me about the show being cancelled. Otherwise I'd have travelled all the way to Glasgow for nothing.
use this when you are warning someone what will happen if they do not do what you are telling them to do: · Be careful or you'll bump your head.· Stop making so much noise or else the neighbours will start complaining.
use this when you cannot do something if you do not do something else first: · No one can succeed in business without taking certain risks.· How can you judge a book without reading it?
use this when something will happen or continue in the way that you want, if something does not happen to prevent it: · Barring unexpected delays, work on the tunnel should be completed by the end of next month.
use this when you are saying what someone must do if they want to stop something bad from happening: · Put that money somewhere safe before it gets stolen.· That dog ought to be destroyed before it attacks any more children.
use this when you are saying what you will do if the first thing you suggested is not possible: · My mother wanted me to be a teacher or, failing that, a nurse.· Dr Schwabe said he could find me a room either on the campus, or failing that, in a house nearby.
why something must be true use this to say that you think something is true, because the only other possibility is very unlikely: · He must have resigned, unless they fired him.· Unless he's a complete idiot, he'll understand.
use this to say that something must be true, because if it is not true the situation would be different: · She must have missed the train, otherwise she'd be here by now.· It can't have been anything important, otherwise she'd have called back.
use this to say that something must be true, because if it is not, the situation would be different or something very unlikely would be true: · They must have thought everything was safe, or else they would have warned us.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I can’t marry her and to pretend otherwise would be wrong.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
I can’t marry her and to pretend otherwise would be wrong.· However, the morning Mass had been well attended and the members of the parish had decided otherwise.· Enough of them eventually drop out, in fact, to disguise the otherwise decided statistical superiority of female performance in school.· Given the statutory provisions, it is difficult to see how the court could have decided otherwise.· Generations of scholars have decided otherwise.· Lawrence subsequently decided otherwise, as he was entitled to do.· If the federal court decides otherwise, then we have a different standard.· It thereby becomes inviolate until an equally vast majority decides otherwise.· We had to cross the mountains, camp near a reservoir, then head home - but fate had decided otherwise.
· It was indelicate to do otherwise.· It would be morally wrong to do otherwise.· No P D James character would dare do otherwise.· To do otherwise would be needlessly cruel.· To do otherwise is simply scientifically incautious.· The world will offer itself to you to be unmasked; it can't do otherwise.· Why otherwise does it direct the judges to take an oath to support it?
· We knew otherwise - and told you so on October 26, 1990.· The public may think the law applies only to the most dangerous offenders, but inmates know otherwise.· This is otherwise known as a fiduciary relationship.· Area 17, for example, is otherwise known as the primary visual area.· Osteoporosis Otherwise known as brittle bone disease, osteoporosis is a major cause of disability and premature death.· The best explanation for this is the so-called rebound effect, otherwise known as acute tolerance.· During that pilgrimage, they lived in tents and booths, otherwise known as sukkot.
· Eleanor was wrong to try and pretend otherwise.· It makes people feel better to pretend otherwise.· The introduction of council tax is going to hurt an awful lot of people and there is no point in pretending otherwise.· Nevertheless they were two real victories, and it is childish of Bush's opponents to pretend otherwise.· Though she'd never been much of a nurse and it was hypocritical to pretend otherwise.· Though he found it convenient to pretend otherwise, the man was no hick care-taker.· But if you are well known, it seems foolish to pretend otherwise.· I knew at once that something was different, why pretend otherwise?
· How does the incumbent house prove otherwise?· It is a matter for further investigation, but if it looks wrong, it is wrong until proved otherwise.· A Limba teacher is too often believed incompetent by his Susu or Koranko students until he proves otherwise.· The burden was on the state to prove otherwise.· Woodhead spent three years attempting to prove otherwise.· It was a problem waiting to happen, the most identifiable flaw on a team that wanted to prove otherwise.
· Unless stated otherwise, you have to assume all text, graphics, scripts, programs and applets are copyright.· All pictures by the author unless stated otherwise.· Unless stated otherwise, all statutory references are to the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.· The point is, mathematical notation gives us complete liberty, unless it explicitly states otherwise.· All items are available from good toy shops, unless stated otherwise.· Edges are neatened and pressed open unless stated otherwise.· In the rest of this factsheet, the community charge referred to is the personal community charge unless stated otherwise.
· It is ridiculous to suggest otherwise.· One might think that the business interests would have more sway, but the results suggest otherwise.· The example of Leavis and Scrutiny may suggest otherwise.· But the 57 Mature Harappan graves from the R37 cemetery at Harappa suggest otherwise.· Experience with other fund management takeovers would however tend to suggest otherwise.· The Pep Squad only pretends to be-and woe to any member who might dare to suggest otherwise.· The stopwatch may suggest otherwise but so what.· This might have stemmed from inadequate foundations, but what evidence there is suggests otherwise.
· Many might seek to use the asylum route and, indeed, it would be naive to think otherwise.· But he knew that people thought otherwise, and that their false impression was his own fault.· People think otherwise, surely, from politicians: more simply, about horror, fear, survival?· To think otherwise, it seems, is to reveal oneself as an ignoramus who does not know enough characters.· If Anya thinks otherwise, she has no future at Mephistco.· But I wanted to have it on the record, in case any of you think otherwise.· Donald thinks otherwise - and the upshot may be that he will sue.· No one at Exeter, it is hard to think otherwise, ever wanted for anything.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► it cannot be otherwise/how can it be otherwise?PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1[sentence adverb] used when saying what bad thing will happen if something is not done: - Global warming is otherwise known as the greenhouse effect.
- Area 17, for example, is otherwise known as the primary visual area.
- During that pilgrimage, they lived in tents and booths, otherwise known as sukkot.
- It is otherwise known as delegated legislation.
- It was a control on monetary hanky-panky, otherwise known as inflation.
- The best explanation for this is the so-called rebound effect, otherwise known as acute tolerance.
- But he knew that people thought otherwise, and that their false impression was his own fault.
- But I wanted to have it on the record, in case any of you think otherwise.
- Donald thinks otherwise - and the upshot may be that he will sue.
- Many might seek to use the asylum route and, indeed, it would be naive to think otherwise.
- People think otherwise, surely, from politicians: more simply, about horror, fear, survival?
- The rich supposedly think otherwise -- and manage to pay very little.
- To say otherwise would be bitterness and we know better than to surrender.
- To think otherwise, it seems, is to reveal oneself as an ignoramus who does not know enough characters.
- I can't see any advantage in changing my job - financially or otherwise.
- Advisedly or otherwise, the Regent Douglas was doing as he had part-proposed.
- Every haulier, wittingly or otherwise, will become involved to some extent in Customs 88 procedures.
- I too wanted to stand, silent or otherwise, upon that peak in Darién.
- Many factors contribute to the effectiveness or otherwise of the various techniques.
- Prizes must be accepted as offered, there can be no alternative awards, cash or otherwise.
- Regional variations - Gallican or otherwise - were disapproved, whether liturgical, theological or pastoral.
- Space is devoted in the final chapter to considerations of the mentalism, or otherwise, of metrical structures.
- The lower limit to transition even for very large disturbances is provided by the growth or otherwise of slugs.
- Oonagh was beautiful, but I was ... otherwise engaged.
- The people in the town who may need a spot of positive thinking more than anybody else will be otherwise engaged.
- The two leaders went to military headquarters for confirmation and were told that the staff were otherwise engaged.
- They were eating, sleeping, defecating, or otherwise engaged in some momentous enterprise.
- This satisfies him and allows the other adventurers to run and escape automatically while the Champion is otherwise engaged.
- Duffy, who was otherwise engaged, has been replaced by another actor.
- The people in the town who may need a spot of positive thinking more than anybody else will be otherwise engaged.
- The two leaders went to military headquarters for confirmation and were told that the staff were otherwise engaged.
- This satisfies him and allows the other adventurers to run and escape automatically while the Champion is otherwise engaged.
- Christopher would tell me all sorts of things I would never know otherwise.
- If you know different contact: who would like to get this year's books completed.
- Just another wench, he told himself angrily, but deep down he knew different.
- Now, presumably, they know different.
- The answer is probably no - but do you know otherwise?
- The public may think the law applies only to the most dangerous offenders, but inmates know otherwise.
- We knew otherwise - and told you so on October 26, 1990.
- We teach them, you know different things.
You’ll have to go now, otherwise you’ll miss your bus. Put your coat on, otherwise you’ll get cold.► see thesaurus at if2[sentence adverb] used when saying what would have happened or might have happened if something else had not happened: We were delayed at the airport. Otherwise we would have been here by lunch time. They got two free tickets to Canada, otherwise they’d never have been able to afford to go.3 say/think/decide etc otherwise to say, think, or decide something different: The government claims that the economy is improving, but this survey suggests otherwise. A lot of people think otherwise.4except for what has just been mentioned: He was tired but otherwise in good health.[sentence adverb] I could hear the distant noise of traffic. Otherwise all was still.[+adjective/adverb] This spoiled an otherwise excellent piece of work. Their arrival livened up an otherwise dull afternoon.5or otherwise especially British English used to refer to the opposite of what has just been mentioned: We welcome any comments from viewers, favourable or otherwise. The truth or otherwise of this diagnosis would be revealed in the future.6otherwise engaged formal busy doing something else: I’m afraid I will be otherwise engaged that day.7otherwise known as also called: Albert DeSalvo, otherwise known as the Boston Strangler8formal in a different way: people who smoke or otherwise abuse their bodies9it cannot be otherwise/how can it be otherwise? formal used to say that it is impossible for something to be different from the way it is: Life in the military is hard – how can it be otherwise?