other

1 of 5

adjective

oth·​er ˈə-t͟hər How to pronounce other (audio)
1
a
: being the one (as of two or more) remaining or not included
held on with one hand and waved with the other one
b
: being the one or ones distinct from that or those first mentioned or implied
taller than the other boys
c
: second
every other day
2
: not the same : different
any other color would have been better
something other than it seems to be
3
: additional
sold in the U.S. and 14 other countries
4
a
: recently past
the other evening
b
: former
in other times
5
: disturbingly or threateningly different : alien, exotic

other

2 of 5

noun

1
: a different or additional one
the others came later
2
a
: one that remains of two or more
b
: a thing opposite to or excluded by something else
went from one side to the other
nature as the other of culture
3
a
: one (such as another person) that is psychologically differentiated from the self
b
often capitalized : one considered by members of a dominant group as alien, exotic, threatening, or inferior (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics)

other

3 of 5

pronoun

sometimes plural in construction
1
: a different or additional one
something or other
2
obsolete
a
: one of two that remains
b
: each preceding one

other

4 of 5

adverb

: otherwise
used with than
was unable to see them other than by going to their home

other

5 of 5

verb

othered; othering

transitive verb

: to treat or consider (a person or a group of people) as alien to oneself or one's group (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics)
… we trace how in small rural communities these processes of othering the poor are racializedVictoria Lawson et al.
You go in and don't have to go some dark, scary corner for the plus-size section. It can make you feel like you're not being othered and dehumanized.Amanda Levitt
othering
ˈə-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce other (audio)
ˈət͟h-
noun
I am a black writer struggling with and through a language that can powerfully evoke and enforce hidden signs of racial superiority, cultural hegemony, and dismissive "othering" of people … Toni Morrison

Did you know?

Is other a verb?

Like many English words, other possesses great flexibility in meaning and function. Over the past few centuries, it has served as an adjective, an adverb, a noun, and a pronoun. In recent decades, other has increased its part-of-speech portfolio to include verb use, having acquired the meaning "to treat or consider (a person or a group of people) as alien to oneself or one's group (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics).” Some people find it disconcerting when a word takes on a new part of speech, a process known as functional shift. The phenomenon is quite common, however -- our language contains many thousands of words which have been formed in this fashion.

Examples of other in a Sentence

Adjective These and other issues will be discussed at the next meeting. The driver's wife and two other passengers were injured in the accident. Leaders from China, Russia, and 14 other countries attended the conference. Adverb we cannot make it to the party other than by canceling the previous engagement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The special, streaming on Netflix December 6 at 9 p.m. ET, will feature Carpenter performing tracks from her 2023 EP fruitcake and other classic holiday covers. Michael Savio, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024 Furniture, appliances, and other household items can also be donated to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore program. Whizy Kim, Vox, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
For the first time in the history of Fox News Digital's NFL power rankings, and likely many others across the web, the Detroit Lions are the kings. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024 The venue is much smaller than many others in the valley, including neighboring Desert Diamond Arena, but it's designed for the optimal performer and audience experience, Fisher said. Jessica Boehm, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Intel passing on the OpenAI investment mirrors other missed opportunities by giant companies that failed to see the future clearly. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2024 Indeed there had been other more obvious candidates for the job. Nicole Gull McElroy, Fortune, 16 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for other 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Noun, Pronoun, and Adverb

Middle English, from Old English ōther; akin to Old High German andar other, Sanskrit antara

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Adverb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of other was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near other

Cite this Entry

“Other.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/other. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

other

1 of 4 adjective
oth·​er ˈət͟h-ər How to pronounce other (audio)
1
: not being the one or ones first mentioned or included
broke my other arm
2
: having one come before that is not included or counted : second
every other day
3
: not the same : different
any other color would be better
4
: additional
some other guests are coming
5
: recently past
the other evening

other

2 of 4 noun
1
: a remaining one
lift one foot and then the other
2
: a different or additional one
the others came later

other

3 of 4 pronoun
: a different or additional one
something or other

other

4 of 4 adverb
: otherwise sense 1
could not get there other than by helicopter

More from Merriam-Webster on other

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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