1
as in assumption
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning
your conclusion may turn out to be accurate, but you're postulating a lot of ifs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in condition
something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends
there are a number of ifs in the proposal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of if
If Florida is out of the way due to missing Aleksander Barkov (still a big if), the Atlantic really opens up.
—
Sean Gentille, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The two eventually form an intergenerational friendship that’s genuine, even if its foundation is based on a white lie, and you brace for the inevitable moment — not an if, but a when — of Eleanor getting busted.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
If the Nefes report proves true—and again that’s a big if—and Russia seeks to buy back S-400s from Turkey to keep its traditional customers onside, that could further bode ill for a delivery of Su-35s or any other advanced weapons systems to Tehran.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
But Laura isn’t interested in discussing the ifs and buts.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
And that remains, at best, a very big if.
—Andrei Lankov, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
If rookie first-rounder Josh Simmons holds up at left tackle, this group should be solid, but that's another big if.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
The new strategy means the doc fix happens only if Republicans can get a reconciliation package across the finish line — a big if.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
The question about Running Point getting a season 2 is not really an if, but a when.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Sean Gentille, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
The two eventually form an intergenerational friendship that’s genuine, even if its foundation is based on a white lie, and you brace for the inevitable moment — not an if, but a when — of Eleanor getting busted.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
If the Nefes report proves true—and again that’s a big if—and Russia seeks to buy back S-400s from Turkey to keep its traditional customers onside, that could further bode ill for a delivery of Su-35s or any other advanced weapons systems to Tehran.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
But Laura isn’t interested in discussing the ifs and buts.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
And that remains, at best, a very big if.
—Andrei Lankov, Time, 21 Aug. 2025
If rookie first-rounder Josh Simmons holds up at left tackle, this group should be solid, but that's another big if.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025
The new strategy means the doc fix happens only if Republicans can get a reconciliation package across the finish line — a big if.
—Peter Sullivan, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
The question about Running Point getting a season 2 is not really an if, but a when.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
Amazon isn't the only tech company that appears to make assumptions about AI's effects on code.—
NPR,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
-
That assumption collapsed along with Larsen B in the early 2000s, and scientists soon came to a consensus that ice loss was well underway.—
Evan Howell,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Representatives for Bardot did not respond to PEOPLE's previous request for a comment on the actress's condition.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Balau Nath to erect the fort under the condition that the shadow of the fort must never cover Nath’s home.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The connection between the two cases lies in his approach and the use of controversial theories involving rituals and hidden motivations, which drew significant criticism of his conduct as a prosecutor.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Another theory is that very heavy rainfall after serious drought violently sloshed the waters of Lake Nyos.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of such actions which shall be heard and determined by a court of three judges in accordance with the provisions of section 2284 of title 28 of the United States Code and any appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The new venture included a provision that allowed the 76ers to capture a greater share of arena revenue at Xfinity Mobile starting last season.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Private cloud is also where organizations can focus on delivering AI and what’s next, knowing that security, governance and compliance are givens rather than points of concern.—
Patrick Moorhead,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Assuming the roster gets back to full health, the givens ahead of Pelle in the rotation would be Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins and, perhaps, Davion Mitchell.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The peculiar requirement is an homage to Emma Stone’s character in the film, who is a bald-headed CEO who ends up kidnapped and suspected of being an alien.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), approved by Congress earlier this year, introduces stricter work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by limiting who can be exempt from the program’s time restrictions.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The bout was a tables match, a stipulation that Team 3D made famous.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The one stipulation — no phones.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The odds of a hurricane landfall in the US really dwindle at the end of October and into November, but there have been notable late-season exceptions.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Walmart is one of the exceptions that proves the rule.—
Mark Simon,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share