if

1 of 2

conjunction

ˈif 

əf

1

a

: in the event that

b

: allowing that

c

: on the assumption that

d

: on condition that

2

: whether

asked if the mail had come

I doubt if I'll pass the course

3

—used as a function word to introduce an exclamation expressing a wish

if it would only rain

4

: even though : although perhaps

an interesting if untenable argument

5

: and perhaps not even

few if any changes are expected

—often used with not

difficult if not impossible

if

2 of 2

noun

ˈif 

1

: condition, stipulation

the question … depends on too many ifs to allow an answer

—Encounter

2

: supposition

Phrases

if anything

: on the contrary even : perhaps even

if anything, you ought to apologize

Synonyms

Noun

• assumption
• given
• hypothetical
• postulate
• premise
• premiss
• presumption
• presupposition
• supposition

Examples of if in a Sentence

Noun

There are too many ifs in this proposal.

your conclusion may turn out to be accurate, but you're postulating a lot of ifs

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

So which team has best chance of actually winning? Keeler: Deion Sanders taking CU Buffs to College Football Playoff feels like when, not an if. —Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024

There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about it: the Rangers can’t waste this opportunity against a tanking opponent. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023

There’s no questions or ifs or buts, that is the end of it. —Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023

But still, they should be haunted by the if-onlys. —Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 Feb. 2023

As a result, discontent with the manager is growing, and with a 7 ½-month gap between the end of qualifying and the start of this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, this would be the time to make a change - if, indeed, a change is coming. —Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2022

On Monday, Circa Sports posted Georgia as a 3-point favorite - with the over/under at 50.5 - if, or when, the Tide clinches the SEC West. —Mark Heim | [e-mail], al, 15 Nov. 2021

OOF: If the Senate manages to pass its health-care bill -- and that's a mammoth IF -- the House seems ready to give it the nod, too, my colleague Paul Kane writes. —Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post, 17 July 2017

But if all goes as planned – a big IF in the restaurant business – —Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

Conjunction

Middle English, from Old English gif; akin to Old High German ibu if

First Known Use

Conjunction

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing if

• as if
• as if I cared
• As if on cue
• correct me if I'm wrong
• damned if
• darned if
• doggoned if
• even if
• few if any
• I don't mind if I do
• if anything
• if (at all) possible
• if/had (two people's) situations been reversed
• if he/she is day
• if I may/might say so
• if I may say so
• if I say so myself
• if it ain't broke, don't fix it
• if it comes to that
• if it had not been for
• if it isn't
• if it kills one
• if it's any consolation
• if it's the last thing someone does
• if it's the last thing someone (ever) does
• if it wasn't
• if it were not for
• if I were (someone)
• if I were you
• if looks could kill, I'd be dead right now
• if memory serves
• if (my) memory serves me (correctly/right/rightly)
• if necessary
• if need be
• if not
• if not for
• if nothing else
• if one had one's druthers
• if one knows what's good for one
• if only
• if so
• if someone likes
• if someone must
• if the cap fits
• if the cap fits, wear it
• if the shoe fits
• if the shoe fits, wear it
• if (the) worse comes to (the) worst
• if (the) worst comes to (the) worst
• if/when all else fails
• if worse comes to worse
• if you ask me
• if you believe that, you'll believe anything
• if you can't stand/take the heat, get out of the kitchen
• if you don't mind my/me asking
• if you don't mind my/me saying so
• if you know what I mean
• if you like
• if you must know
• if you please
• if you've got it, flaunt it
• if you've seen one, you've seen them all
• if you will
• little if any
• nothing if not
• rarely/seldom if ever
• see if I care
• that's a big if
• what if
• (you're) damned if you do and damned if you don't

Rhymes for if

• biff
• cliff
• diff
• glyph
• griff
• riff
• schiff
• skiff
• sniff
• stiff
• tiff
• whiff

Kids Definition

if

1 of 2 conjunction

(ˌ)if 

əf

1

: in the event that

come if you can

2

: whether it is or was true that

asked if the mail had come

3

—used to introduce a wish

if it would only rain

4

: even though : but

an interesting if unbelievable excuse

if

2 of 2 noun

ˈif 

1

: condition entry 1 sense 3, stipulation

too many ifs make the contract confusing

2

: supposition sense 1

a theory full of ifs

Medical Definition

IF

abbreviation

interferon