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
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
But Oscars season tells a story, often multiple stories, and stories need villains if only as a point of relief for the main characters.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
State officials had previously warned of long delays if only partial benefits were funded by the federal government.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
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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
But Oscars season tells a story, often multiple stories, and stories need villains if only as a point of relief for the main characters.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
State officials had previously warned of long delays if only partial benefits were funded by the federal government.
—Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 7 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 21 Nov. 2025.
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