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
Wednesday’s 11-1 win over the Giants in San Francisco put the Padres alone in first, if only perhaps temporarily.
—
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
After all, if only technical experts can operate it, then this significantly limits your organization’s ability to quickly make logistics decisions.
—Michael Amori, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
For example, if only your right hip flexor feels tight despite stretching both sides equally, your nervous system may be guarding that specific area for a reason — perhaps due to residual effects of an old injury, pelvic misalignment, joint instability or weakness on that side.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
Manchester United, surely, if only because the bar is so low.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for if only
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Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
After all, if only technical experts can operate it, then this significantly limits your organization’s ability to quickly make logistics decisions.
—Michael Amori, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
For example, if only your right hip flexor feels tight despite stretching both sides equally, your nervous system may be guarding that specific area for a reason — perhaps due to residual effects of an old injury, pelvic misalignment, joint instability or weakness on that side.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2025
Manchester United, surely, if only because the bar is so low.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 Aug. 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 Aug. 2025.
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