1
as in assumption
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning
your conclusion may turn out to be accurate, but you're postulating a lot of ifs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in condition
something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends
there are a number of ifs in the proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of if
There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about it: the Rangers can’t waste this opportunity against a tanking opponent.
—
Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023
There’s no questions or ifs or buts, that is the end of it.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
But still, they should be haunted by the if-onlys.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 Feb. 2023
As a result, discontent with the manager is growing, and with a 7 ½-month gap between the end of qualifying and the start of this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, this would be the time to make a change - if, indeed, a change is coming.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2022
On Monday, Circa Sports posted Georgia as a 3-point favorite - with the over/under at 50.5 - if, or when, the Tide clinches the SEC West.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 15 Nov. 2021
OOF: If the Senate manages to pass its health-care bill -- and that's a mammoth IF -- the House seems ready to give it the nod, too, my colleague Paul Kane writes.
—Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post, 17 July 2017
But if all goes as planned – a big IF in the restaurant business –
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2017
Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023
There’s no questions or ifs or buts, that is the end of it.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
But still, they should be haunted by the if-onlys.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 Feb. 2023
As a result, discontent with the manager is growing, and with a 7 ½-month gap between the end of qualifying and the start of this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, this would be the time to make a change - if, indeed, a change is coming.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2022
On Monday, Circa Sports posted Georgia as a 3-point favorite - with the over/under at 50.5 - if, or when, the Tide clinches the SEC West.
—Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 15 Nov. 2021
OOF: If the Senate manages to pass its health-care bill -- and that's a mammoth IF -- the House seems ready to give it the nod, too, my colleague Paul Kane writes.
—Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post, 17 July 2017
But if all goes as planned – a big IF in the restaurant business –
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
This potential harm stems from two untested assumptions: 1.Gregory Francis, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Cramer examined why each stock saw gains, attributing some of their recent successes to the assumption that President-elect Donald Trump’s new regulators will largely abandon efforts to curb big business’ power.Julie Coleman, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
San Francisco police provided Mangione’s name to the FBI on Dec. 5, according to a law enforcement official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.Michael R. Sisak, Chicago Tribune, 14 Dec. 2024
-
Some researchers worry that large farms with multiple species are providing the optimal conditions for more species-to-species transfer.Simon Hill, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
But when a 14-year-old girl was found dead soon after in the same manner, this time without cocaine in her system, police began to question the theory.Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 13 Dec. 2024
-
This idea that collaborative learning is a propulsive force is much more than a theory based on my nerdy friends.Kevin Kruse, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
President-elect Trump has vowed to rescind unspent funds earmarked for climate provisions contained in the Inflation Reduction Act, a signature piece of legislation signed by President Biden in 2022.Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
-
In April, President Biden signed into law a provision that allows for TikTok to be banned in the U.S. if it wasn’t sold within nine months, which is Jan. 19.Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
About the only givens seemingly would be Bam Adebayo making first-team All-Defense for the first time, after second-team such nods the past four seasons, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. making first-team All-Rookie.Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Apr. 2024
-
My parents came over to the U.S. from Ireland in 1959 and education and hard work were just givens.Ayesha Javed, TIME, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Hawaii's lawyers also emphasized that the Supreme Court's decision in Bruen does not prohibit states from imposing licensing requirements.Justin Jouvenal and Ann E. Marimow The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 10 Dec. 2024
-
So buyers can sidestep the requirements that typically come with buying a firearm.Holly Yan, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Teams can protect 12 players from their 2024 senior and supplemental rosters, with some stipulations.Kate Murphy, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024
-
The only stipulation, for me, is that Julie can’t die.Max Gao, Variety, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Each exception should be justified and closely monitored to maintain the integrity of your security framework.Danny Jenkins, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
-
Jenkins does give us one wonderful underwater fight which might be the exception that proves the rule.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to if
Thesaurus Entries Near if
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share