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 if, ultimately, hinges on Bryant’s health.
—
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Routing logic that could have been a single if-statement.
—Aruna Veerappan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
But all my ‘what ifs’ were about what will people would think, and that’s a dangerous headspace.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
But that’s a big if, and could be the difference between the Valkyries selecting a project like Angloma or a more surefire player that could contribute right away.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
That's a huge if against the best front line in the country, though.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
But the if of the team’s health looms.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
The if-then paradigm needs to be simplified.
—Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
With that in mind, even if Cooper succeeds in winning over city leaders—a big if—the potential challenges in leveraging Champions Point’s biggest selling point may only further stymie Cooper in turning the long-unsellable property into something people will pay to visit.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 May 2026
Routing logic that could have been a single if-statement.
—Aruna Veerappan, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
But all my ‘what ifs’ were about what will people would think, and that’s a dangerous headspace.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
But that’s a big if, and could be the difference between the Valkyries selecting a project like Angloma or a more surefire player that could contribute right away.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
That's a huge if against the best front line in the country, though.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
But the if of the team’s health looms.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
The if-then paradigm needs to be simplified.
—Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
With that in mind, even if Cooper succeeds in winning over city leaders—a big if—the potential challenges in leveraging Champions Point’s biggest selling point may only further stymie Cooper in turning the long-unsellable property into something people will pay to visit.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
The first is the buy-back clause Real Madrid insisted upon when Paz was sold to Como; the assumption is that it will eventually be activated.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Pla2na/Getty Images Many Americans spend decades building a retirement plan around the simple assumption that their monthly Social Security benefits will provide a reliable source of income no matter what happens with their finances or the economy.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
People who have medical conditions that cause bleeding or open sores can also be vulnerable to infection.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Even a middle school student would perceive a stark difference between someone who voices a bogus theory and someone who acts on it.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
In theory, that should be a straightforward fix.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
Back in February, a federal judge ruled that key provisions of the law could go into effect, a decision backed by retailers who supported the legislation.—
Olivia Olander,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Supplying the army from the sea In 1775, American ground forces managed to lay siege to the British army in Boston, but Washington needed provisions and military stores to sustain pressure on this key commercial hub.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Where the show’s values were once givens, almost diorama labels, now they’re presented as more fugitive and unstable, what its characters would hope the world to be.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Among geologists, there are givens: Humans don’t build things that last a million years.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This veto aligns with Polis’ veto of a similar bill last year that featured a 48-hour warrant compliance requirement and stricter self-policing by the platforms.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
They were freed with the requirement that the mother and Habiba would wear ankle monitors and the family would appear for frequent check-ins.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
All sorts of improper provisions and constitutionally contentious stipulations are undoubtedly buried within these shiny new AI laws.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
The two passengers tell the outlet that New York is the only state that will not allow passengers to return home, even with the monitoring stipulation.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
There's very little Democrats and Republicans seem to agree on these days, but Iowa's importance to their political futures is one exception.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
31 May 2026
-
On-field treatment delay Players who require on-field treatment from medical staff will have to leave the field of play for one minute after the restart, bar notable exceptions.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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