what-if

noun

ˌ(h)wät-ˈif,
ˌ(h)wət- How to pronounce what-if (audio)
: a suppositional question
what-if adjective

Examples of what-if in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Practice the what-if conversation early, when trust is high and stakes are low. Stephan Lendi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 Or, in 2020, spending the entire summer planning for every what-if amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 13 May 2025 This tool allows users to: Break large projects into smaller, manageable tasks Assign deadlines and track progress visually Run what-if scenarios to explore different project outcomes Auto-populate start and end dates based on task assignments Who should use Microsoft Project? New Atlas, 5 Mar. 2025 Miller proposed this team on a twitter what-if post: Sock, Ge, Fahey, David. Todd Boss, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for what-if

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of what-if was in 1970

Cite this Entry

“What-if.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what-if. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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