OTHERWISE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does otherwise mean? 

• OTHERWISE (adjective)
  The adjective OTHERWISE has 1 sense:

1. other than as supposed or expected

  Familiarity information: OTHERWISE used as an adjective is very rare.

• OTHERWISE (adverb)
  The adverb OTHERWISE has 2 senses:

1. in other respects or ways

2. in another and different manner

  Familiarity information: OTHERWISE used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OTHERWISE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Other than as supposed or expected

Context example:

the outcome was otherwise

Similar:

other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)

• OTHERWISE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In other respects or ways

Context example:

an otherwise hopeless situation

Sense 2

Meaning:

In another and different manner

Synonyms:

differently; otherwise

Context example:

there is no way out other than the fire escape

 Context examples 

I don't want to look a gift-horse in the mouth, which is not a gracious thing to do; otherwise, I dare say, my cousin Annie could easily arrange it in her own way.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was, of course, of the very first importance that they should not be reminded of the existence of this paper, otherwise they would naturally destroy it without delay.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Lady Brackenstall thinks that they were themselves so disturbed by the death of Sir Eustace that they did not ransack the house, as they would otherwise have done.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

To be otherwise comforted was out of the question.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Besides, a taste for flowers is always desirable in your sex, as a means of getting you out of doors, and tempting you to more frequent exercise than you would otherwise take.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them at our house so often as I otherwise should.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

"How could it be otherwise with any one who knew you?"

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Theoretically, seeing an increase in the numbers of switching cells in otherwise healthy vessels should raise an alarm.

(Observation of blood vessel cells changing function could lead to early detection of blocked arteries, University of Cambridge)

An invasive ductal breast carcinoma, not otherwise specified, characterized by increased levels of human beta-chorionic gonadotropin in the serum.

(Breast Carcinoma with Choriocarcinomatous Features, NCI Thesaurus)

A process that synthesizes a material of interest using cell culture that is not otherwise specified.

(Cell Culture-Based Biosynthesis, Not Otherwise Specified, NCI Thesaurus)