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
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
There is an if here, in other words.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
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
There is an if here, in other words.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
These findings highlight a more significant aspect of how AI systems encode and perpetuate cultural assumptions, as well as where decoding errors might occur in the human reader's mind.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Rebecca recognizes, given her backstory, people might make assumptions about her expectations for her two daughters.—
Jessie Opoien,
jsonline.com,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Officials did not give any details on the man’s medical condition.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Poor weather and battlefield obscurants continue to endanger warfighters as adversaries rely on these conditions to escape attacks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni shut down that theory with a clear response on Monday.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Davis is a registered nurse, earned a master’s degree in operational excellence and process improvement from Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, and earned a doctorate in adult learning theory from the University of Pennsylvania.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This provision states that any NATO member country can call for consultation in the event of security concerns.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Critics, including education advocates, argue the provision’s last-minute inclusion in the budget reflected the political leverage of cohesive voting blocs in Brooklyn and Rockland County.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 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
-
Magdalene Serenity House received inquiries from 190 women seeking a safe place to heal, recover and rebuild in 2024 with 117 meeting the group's eligibility requirements, organizers say.—
Carin Schoppmeyer,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
-
His question was a reference to a portion of the Voters' Right to Know Act that creates a process for political donors to get permission to opt-out of disclosure requirements by either a state court or the Citizens' Clean Elections Commission.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
27 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gusman donated the theater under the stipulation that the semi-autonomous Miami Parking Authority would manage the property.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Stefan paid the rent, but there were stipulations.—
John J. Lennon,
Rolling Stone,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That type of change, however, might attract opposition from lawmakers who have reservations about carving out antitrust exceptions for select companies and businesses.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Legislation he's introduced recently includes ending an exception to a visa program that universities use for hard-to-fill jobs and delisting the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share