else

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ɛls/; sometimes /ɛlts/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Preposition

Preposition else

1. You use else to show that something is not the same one as another thing.

   OK, he's cute, but what else has he got?

   I don't think this one fits me. Do you have anything else in the same colour?

   I've told you most of it. There's not much else I can think of.

Usage notes

• The preposition else is used only after words beginning with some-, every-, any-, and no-, after question words, and after much, little, and all.

Synonyms

• besides
• other

Related words

• elsewhere

Adverb

Positive else

Comparative none

Superlative none

1. You use $x$ or else $y$ to say that if $x$ doesn't happen or isn't true, $y$ would happen or would be true.

   They don't want to be here or else they would have come.

2. You use or else to say that if something doesn't happen, it will be bad.

   You'd better clean your room, or else.