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

Out of the 26 letters of the Roman alphabet, or any writing system, an identity can be assigned, fixed—and made, if not real, then socially legible and governmentally legal. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

To do so means leaving behind a life that job-seekers spend months, if not years, navigating administrative hurdles to attain. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026

This is a physically mature 18-year-old player, and while elements of his game will require some work — specifically his shot selection — his two-way instincts and physical makeup are near NHL-ready, if not NHL-ready outright. — Thomas Drance, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

As generative AI has become better at producing convincing — if not hyper-polished — images, video and other creative work in the past year, the debate around its role in culture is moving beyond whether artists should use it. — Amy O’Brien, Vogue, 15 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for if not

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