Link Centre Dictionary

otherwise

ot·her·wise

UK/ˈʌð.əˌwaɪz/ US/ˈʌð.ɚˌwaɪz/ common
adverb (2) adjective (1)

adverb

1.

in other respects or ways

  • “he is otherwise normal”
  • “the funds are not otherwise available”
  • “an otherwise hopeless situation”
2.

in another and different manner

  • “very soon you will know differently”
  • “she thought otherwise”
  • “there is no way out other than the fire escape”
Synonyms

adjective

1.

other than as supposed or expected

  • “the outcome was otherwise”
Similar

Origin

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”).

Phrases

  • otherwise engaged
  • until proven otherwise

Related words

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.