if only
idiom
—used to talk about something that one wants to happen or be true
If only she loved me in return!
If only it would stop raining.
Examples of if only in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The account was confirmed to be fake by McCarthy’s agent, and finally was suspended, if only temporarily.
—
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
And if only Sam learned how to place more value on family and quality time!
—Sarah Neilson, Them., 17 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, industry practices remain a fertile ground for more class-action suits, the CPC report warns, if only because agents and their brokers all tend to charge the same rate.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
The Ohio governor race has started to come into focus as voters look ahead to the 2026 election contests, and a recent poll has shown Democrat hopeful Amy Acton ahead of Republican frontrunner Vivek Ramaswamy—if only by a slim margin.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for if only
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Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
And if only Sam learned how to place more value on family and quality time!
—Sarah Neilson, Them., 17 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, industry practices remain a fertile ground for more class-action suits, the CPC report warns, if only because agents and their brokers all tend to charge the same rate.
—Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025
The Ohio governor race has started to come into focus as voters look ahead to the 2026 election contests, and a recent poll has shown Democrat hopeful Amy Acton ahead of Republican frontrunner Vivek Ramaswamy—if only by a slim margin.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for if only
Cite this Entry
“If only.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/if%20only. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.
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