if

1 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 given, hypothetical, assumption, postulate, premise (also premiss), presumption, presupposition, suppositionRelated Words hypothesis, proposition, theory, thesis; axiom, truism, verity; belief, canon, doctrine, dogma, gospel, law; precept, principle, rule, standard, tenet; basis, foundation, ground; conclusion, deduction, inference; affirmation, assertion, avouchment, declaration; dictum, ipse dixit

2 something upon which the carrying out of an agreement or offer depends there are a number of ifs in the proposal Synonyms contingency, condition, provision, proviso, qualification, reservation, stipulationRelated Words strings, terms; precondition, prerequisite, requirement, requisite; limitation, modification, restriction; exception, exemption; demand, essential, must, necessity, need