How to Use if necessary in a Sentence

if necessary

idiom
  • And, if necessary, find a dark room to ride out the storm.
    Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024
  • The museum says to hit a shark on the tip of its nose if necessary.
    Dennis Romero, NBC News, 5 July 2023
  • Use a warm iron if necessary but do not take this to the dry cleaners.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 15 Oct. 2024
  • The master will warm to the pupil, and fight his corner, if necessary.
    Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2023
  • The soup should be brothy—add hot water to thin it if necessary.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2024
  • Make sure to rest in the shade, eat and drink water and electrolytes, and call for help if necessary.
    Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
  • And a childhood friend was ready to talk her through any crises, and to fly out to Denver to help if necessary.
    Meg Wingerter, The Denver Post, 14 Apr. 2024
  • Also, only get on a roof if necessary and once help us on the way.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2024
  • Bahr explains that the TSA has a set of bolt cutters to remove the locks if necessary.
    Harrison Pierce, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2024
  • At 20 pounds, the mulcher is heavy enough to stay in place while working but light enough to move it around your yard if necessary.
    Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2024
  • If a hearing in the case, if necessary, would begin on Aug. 14.
    Mike Cason | McAson@al.com, al, 17 July 2023
  • Instead, the league should start Round One a week later and play all three games (if necessary) in the space of two weekends.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
  • Stir in the sugar and 3½ cups of water, then taste and add more sugar if necessary.
    Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2024
  • Pay attention to what others say and do, and be ready to step in and take over if necessary.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2024
  • Once the water begins to boil, add the crab legs and simmer, turning the heat down if necessary.
    Coastal Living, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024
  • The winner of the March primary, or runoff if necessary, will clash with Cruz.
    Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas News, 4 Sep. 2023
  • Stay on alert and ready to make a last-minute adjustment if necessary.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
  • Games 3 and 4, if necessary, will be played in Phoenix on Wednesday and Thursday night.
    Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2023
  • Lift the tips of the wings up and over the breast, and tuck them under the turkey—secure excess of the neck flap (use a wooden pick if necessary).
    Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023
  • Or call your own parent (five times a day, if necessary).
    Parents Editors, Parents, 11 June 2023
  • That time can be added back on to the sentence if necessary, but that’s rare, say prison consultants.
    Chris Morris, Fortune, 7 May 2024
  • Place the tube lengthwise in the center of the paper and cut to size if necessary, leaving an equal amount on either side.
    Paula Sutton, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2023
  • Use a microfiber cloth, water and mild dish soap to clean it off, and repeat if necessary.
    Maya Pottiger, Washington Post, 24 May 2023
  • Later in the healing process, lasers can be used to fade scars further, if necessary.
    Taryn Brooke, Allure, 7 July 2023
  • Keep the mixture warm over very low heat, or reheat if necessary.
    Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2023
  • Thursday’s game two is at 5 p.m. followed by a third game, if necessary, at 7.
    Skip Vaughn, al, 10 May 2023
  • What to do next would be for your husband (and you) to take a long, hard look at what is and isn’t going on with Mack, and move on with your lives if necessary.
    Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 6 July 2024
  • Queue up your music, turn on your GPS if necessary and buckle up.
    Madeline Beck, Detroit Free Press, 30 June 2023
  • The ability to devote oneself to art around the clock if necessary.
    Boris Sollazzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Dec. 2023
  • Ask questions, seek second opinions if necessary, and continue pushing for comprehensive care until your concerns are adequately addressed.
    Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 7 Oct. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'if necessary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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