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
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
That’s a big if, needless to say.
—Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
If all goes well—and this is a huge if, Gialich readily acknowledges—Odin will fly by its target asteroid 301 days later.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
There was an if-not-now-then-when feeling in Buffalo this week.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025
New experimental and theoretical results, new tools and private sector investment are all adding to our growing sense that developing practical fusion energy is no longer an if but a when.
—Farhat Beg, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025
Yes, derivatives can pay off on all sorts of inflationary outcomes (if the counterparty is solvent enough to pay—a big if).
—James Berman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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
That’s a big if, needless to say.
—Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
If all goes well—and this is a huge if, Gialich readily acknowledges—Odin will fly by its target asteroid 301 days later.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
There was an if-not-now-then-when feeling in Buffalo this week.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025
New experimental and theoretical results, new tools and private sector investment are all adding to our growing sense that developing practical fusion energy is no longer an if but a when.
—Farhat Beg, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025
Yes, derivatives can pay off on all sorts of inflationary outcomes (if the counterparty is solvent enough to pay—a big if).
—James Berman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
For years, Fort Worth ISD had asked those staffers to focus on helping teachers improve their teaching skills, with the assumption that better instruction — and, therefore, higher test scores — would follow.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Contrary to some assumptions, Republicans have the ability to transform Cleaver's district into a solid Republican seat.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The Southwest is experiencing one of its worst droughts on record, with drier-than-normal conditions since 1994.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These are just theories whereas the temperature modification can actually be measured.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Cooper Neill/Getty Images What To Know Swift's fans have been buzzing with excitement and theories following the pop superstar's announcement earlier this week, but one theory in particular is gaining ground with her fan base.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Walker had already blocked some provisions of the statute that bar noncitizens and residents of other states from gathering petitions to get a measure on the ballot.—
Kate Payne,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
-
But over the years, the courts, Congress, and the first Trump administration eviscerated provisions of the ACA.—
Elisabeth Rosenthal,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Yes, this son of Curlin is the class of the field, but in this game, there are no givens.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
16 July 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
-
Texas is the 29th state to adopt a financial literacy requirement, according to Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit that offers free curriculum to schools nationwide.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Aug. 2025
-
His lawsuit claims that if fully developed, the area could require as many as 450 parking spaces under the parking minimum requirements the city repealed in 2021 Management for JB Vang couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Many of Trump’s trade deals, including with the Philippines and Indonesia, include a stipulation that U.S. exports will not face tariffs, which gave Trump the sweeter side of the deal.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
31 July 2025
-
Earlier this month, the Trump administration lifted a stipulation that required export licenses for chip design software to Chinese customers.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
29 July 2025
Noun
-
The ordinance, however, did carve out the exception that local officials would contact ICE if an inmate had a detainer assigned to them, The Courier Journal reported.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Until last weekend, 40 states have seen cases, and the 10 exceptions are mostly in the East, with several scattered in the and South and West.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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