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
-
Eaton derives roughly 17% of its total revenues from data centers, according to the company’s 2025 growth assumptions.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
-
Employees who challenge assumptions often face resistance from peers and leadership.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
In that way, her dress is always a significant part of Addy’s story, a story that, while fictional, represents the stories of many African Americans born into slavery, who refused to accept that condition.—
Jaha Nailah Avery,
Essence,
13 May 2025
-
Our evaluation across essential metrics—Growth, Profitability, Financial Stability, and Downturn Resilience—shows that Johnson & Johnson exhibits robust operational performance and a strong financial condition, as detailed below.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
One theory raised was that the boat capsized after being struck by a waterspout (which refers to a tornado over the water), though there may have been more factors at play that contributed to the sinking.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
12 May 2025
-
One theory suggests Mars lost its water to space as solar wind stripped it from the atmosphere — a process supported by ratios of isotopes on the Red Planet, or distinct species of chemical elements, seen today.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
-
For now, the massive bill extends most individual tax provisions of the TCJA, including its higher standard deduction and child tax credit and lower tax rates for many.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Because those provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, about 6 in 10 filers would face a tax increase in 2026 without an extension of the law, according to an analysis from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
19 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There are some givens in the B’s lineup, as long as there’s good health.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Post-Only Credit: Prior requirements for the post-only credit required that 75% of the post production budget (not including VFX/Animation) must be undertaken in NY to qualify.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
-
In court documents, Alford’s attorney, Marc Ermine, asked for a seven-month sentence with a requirement that Alford participate in alcohol treatment, saying his client has had alcohol abuse issues for decades.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
As well as the six-figure quote, there were stipulations such as business-class flights and preapproved hotels.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 May 2025
-
Leitch apportioned blame on the basis that McDougall had ignored stipulations in the contract by using shorter length joists and substituting red pine for weaker yellow pine.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
Noun
-
Asking for fairness, the state workers who gathered outside the Caltrans headquarters across from the Capitol delivered a petition, urging the department to reconsider allowing exceptions to the telework policy.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
16 May 2025
-
Judge Florence Pan pressed Graver to explain why the Federal Reserve should be carved out as an exception to boards Trump should have control over, but the labor boards should not.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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