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

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
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.
Dior went on to accuse Remy of glaring at her during the proceedings, claiming the rapper carried herself as if her son were the victim. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 1 July 2025 Everywhere reminded her of everywhere else these days, as if the beginning of her life and its forthcoming end were meeting. Zadie Smith, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 Since the painting hangs directly across from the mirror, the effect is as if the pup is observing itself. Dina Cheney, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025 Both seasons are presented as if the version of the show the audience is seeing is the reality show about Cherish. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for as if

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of as if was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“As if.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/as%20if. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!