as if

conjunction

1

: as it would be if

It was as if he had lost his last friend.

2

: as one would do if

He ran as if ghosts were chasing him.

3

: that

It seemed as if the day would never end.

4

—used to say that something is not true, not possible, will not happen, etc.

"I am sure I am very affectionate," said Dora; "you oughtn't to be cruel to me, Doady!" "Cruel, my precious love! As if I would—or could—be cruel to you, for the world!"

—Charles Dickens

—sometimes used informally as an interjection to say that something suggested or claimed is impossible, incorrect, or ridiculously unlikely to be true

A simple collection of songs? As if. How about a conceptual ode to London's millennia-old history?

—Craig McLean

Big budgets? High-priced actresses? As if! The film cost a modest $13 million, a figure achieved by not casting stars, but rather stars-in-the-making …

—Nicholas Fonseca

Synonyms

• as
• as though
• like

Examples of as if in a Sentence

she looked as if she wanted to ask one more question before we left

Recent Examples on the Web

In my estimation, the productivity unlocked across industries would be as if the 17 million baby boomers expected to retire between now and 2034 never do so. —Joseph H. Davis, Fortune, 2 Dec. 2024

Instead, in the name of protecting the historic structure, the board will be suspended by an independent system, as if arms were reaching over the rim and into the bowl. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Dec. 2024

However, be aware that there suddenly seems to be pressure from your daily responsibilities and employment, as if there are minute projects that need attention. —Kyle Thomas, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024

Academic Writing as if Readers Matter by Leonard Cassuto is an engaging, practical guide to how to become a better academic writer. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

as if

conjunction

1

: the way it would be if

it was as if we had never left

2

: the way one would do if

they acted as if they'd never heard of us

3

: that entry 2 sense 1a

it seemed as if the day would never end