if not

phrase

1

—used to talk about the negative result or effect of something

You should study. If not, you won't pass the test.

2

—used to express surprise about meeting someone when it is not expected

So I went to the game and who should I see there if not my old friend Tom!

Examples of if not in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Letters from congressional leadership, committee staff meetings and closed-door briefings start weeks, if not months, before executives ever reach the hearing room. — Kenya N. Wiley, Footwear News, 10 Nov. 2026

That was before he was fired, jumped to United, and began relentlessly pushing his new employer to dominate — if not punish — his former one. — Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026

If your piping tips are dishwasher-safe, throw them in with your normal load; if not, wash them by hand. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2026

The 19-year-old appeared unsure, if not rattled, as Florida reached Oklahoma territory just twice, finished with a season-low 203 yards and ran just 47 plays — also the fewest in 2026. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Rhymes for if not

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot