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
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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
-
Much of this momentum traces back to China’s DeepSeek, whose lean, low-cost models upended industry assumptions at the beginning of this year and kicked off a race to make AI smaller, faster, and smarter.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Many of our technologies are built on the not-unreasonable assumption that openness is good, and that more common knowledge is better.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Heyward suggested that the conditions played a role in the injury, which is expected to end Killebrew’s season.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The system has the ability to show warehouse operators how much of the warehouse is occupied, whether products and pallets are in the right location, how storage conditions seem and more.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Supporting this theory is the shoe’s unique material composition and detailing.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
15 Oct. 2025
-
De Stijl’s theories were a product of their time.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
15 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
-
As a general rule, Humbert thinks devices don’t belong on restaurant tables, with exceptions for business meetings and solo meals.—
Maggie Hennessy,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Those exceptions include true threats, defamation, harassment and obscenities.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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