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
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of if
So which team has best chance of actually winning?
Keeler: Deion Sanders taking CU Buffs to College Football Playoff feels like when, not an if.
—
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
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
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
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And so is having people around you who can argue with you and question your assumptions.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Our analysis also makes some other conservative assumptions given the policy’s uncertainty.—
Emily Badger,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Manchester United, Bournemouth, West Ham United and Everton are in advanced talks to participate in the Premier League’s Summer Series event in the United States at the end of July, according to multiple sources familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity.—
Adam Crafton,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
-
According to the Associated Press, citing three FDA staffers on the condition of anonymity, probationary employees across the FDA received notices Saturday evening that their jobs were being eliminated.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But actually, Darwin’s theory is based on fitness to survive, which does not always mean big and strong.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
-
For highly social animals like humans and other primates, the native opioid system may also play a role in social bonding, according to one influential theory.—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Trump vetoed the defense policy bill that contained that provision, in part because of the renaming aspect, but Congress voted to override him with considerable bipartisan support.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2025
-
The $895 billion U.S. defense bill that Congress passed in December did not include a provision to extend the lend-lease act for Kyiv.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There are some givens in the B’s lineup, as long as there’s good health.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2024
-
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
Noun
-
Unlike hemp shops, licensed marijuana shops may sell only to adults 21 and over, must limit their window advertising, must meet expensive licensing and security requirements, and must test and label their products for potency and purity.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Feb. 2025
-
Until two weeks ago, DeSantis’ administration had not taken any action against an employer for violating E-Verify requirements.—
Lawrence Mower,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This stipulation, often viewed as a trade loophole, allowed exporters to send goods direct to consumers and under $800 duty free, and they were often used by companies like Temu and Shein.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2025
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Evildoers are certainly going to try the same approach, despite the licensing stipulations by the AI makers that their AI is not supposed to be used in these malicious ways (see how to determine the licensing prohibitions, at the link here).—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The big exception is anything designated as an artificial cheese product (lookin’ at you, American cheese), as well as low-fat or otherwise altered versions (which tend to include cosmetic additives to help with texture and melting).—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
11 Feb. 2025
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The only exception is to remove dead wood caused by freeze damage.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to if
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Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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