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

Then again, PlayStation has not exactly proven themselves adept at making internal live service games, with high-profile cancellations like The Last of Us Factions and the launch of Concord, quite literally one of the biggest bombs in industry history, if not the biggest. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Young Dro, a protégé of T.I., is a charismatic lyricist who might’ve been one of the city’s brightest stars if not for personal trials that hindered his career. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025

Vizcaya’s outdoor spaces are just as breathtaking—if not more so—than the house itself. —Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025

This tasty if not particularly healthy repast will be served on Shudder later this year. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025

Rhymes for if not

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