⚠️ Or else 🔀 In other ways 🔄 Differently

otherwise

∞ 3.2

If not, something else will happen

adverb
/ˈʌðərˌwaɪz/

: de lo contrario

On-campus housing is their only option; otherwise, they are doomed to repeat the cycle of poverty.
unless otherwise specified
unless otherwise indicated
unless otherwise noted

But you have got to get smarter, otherwise you're going to get screwed.

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Examples

Think big, act small, otherwise your dreams will stay exactly that.
Otherwise, we'll never get out of here.

Rush (2013)
We can and we must, otherwise it's over.
And anyone who says otherwise would not have my support.
I use this with a light hand because otherwise you get that white cast.
Speed up if you can, otherwise go slow and controlled.
What would be the use of it, otherwise?

Sleuth (1972)
Eventually, students create a complete piece of music using sounds they might otherwise consider mistakes.

Academic text (2013)
There should be something meaningful because otherwise it's really not worth it.
You need to study hard for the exam; otherwise, you might fail.

Synonyms

else

vsotherwise

495 1.0

Says that something bad will happen if something is not done

is used for a general different situation rather than a specific consequence

or else

vsotherwise

209 2.0

Shows what will happen if something is not done, often as a warning

expresses a general alternative or different situation instead

Idioms

otherwise engaged

4 4.6

Busy with something else and not available

Surface Forms

otherwise positive

Morphology

otherwise = other (semi-transparent) = other + wise

The conditional sense 'if not / or else' is a conventionalized extension of 'in other circumstances' and may be slightly less overt to learners, though still related to 'other' + '-wise'.

Etymology

Otherwise comes from other ('different') + wise ('way'), so it could mean 'in another case' or 'if not'. That's why otherwise is also used as a short way to say 'or else'.