else

- definition

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Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

adverb

/els/

Else can be used in the following ways:

after a pronoun such as "something," "nothing," "anyone," or "everyone": He married someone else. ♦ Is there anything else you wanted?

after the adverbs "somewhere," "anywhere," "everywhere," and "nowhere": You'll have to sit somewhere else.

after a word such as "what," "who," "how," or "whatever": Who else was with you? ♦ Where else did you go?

after "much" and "little": I have little else to offer.

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

used for showing that you are referring to other things, people, places, etc., apart from the particular ones that you mention or know about
You can't tell anyone else – it's a secret between you and me.
Before we do anything else, we have to sit down and make a list.
There isn't much else to tell you.
What else have you been doing wrong, Kelly?
The police had already interviewed everyone else.
This could only happen in the United States – nowhere else in the world!
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of else

phrase

or else
1. 1
  used for stating the second of two possibilities
  You could drive to Chicago, or else fly there and rent a car.
  either...or else:
  Either he's asleep, or else he's just ignoring me.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of else
2. 2
  used for saying that there will be a bad result if someone does not do something or if something does not happen
  We'd better leave now or else we'll miss our train.
  Always check the oil level, or else you risk damaging the engine.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of else
3. 3
  mainly spoken used for threatening someone
  Give me back those letters or else I'll scream.
  or else (=used when you do not say what you are threatening to do):
  You'd better do what I say, or else!
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of else
4. 4
  mainly spoken used for saying that something must be true, because the situation would be different if it were not true
  You know I really care about you, or else I wouldn't be here.
  I'm sure they're safe, or else we'd have heard something.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of else

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a percussion instrument used by football fans which makes a rattling sound when shaken

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