if not

idiom

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

In Congo, vast wealth, much if not most of it accrued from selling off the country’s abundance of natural resources, coincides with crippling poverty. —Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026

For years, if not decades, officials in Greenland have courted foreign direct investment. —Matt Egan, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026

Ensure guest rooms are stocked with plenty of extra blankets during the winter and, if not a ceiling fan, a portable fan for the summer to make their sleep environment even more suitable to their preferences. —Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026

His lawyers have argued that Gonzales not only followed his training that day but also highlighted that other officers had similar -- if not better -- opportunities to stop the shooter. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 21 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for if not

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