if not

idiom

1
used to talk about the negative result or effect of something
You should study. If not, you won't pass the test.
2
used to express surprise about meeting someone when it is not expected
So I went to the game and who should I see there if not my old friend Tom!

Examples of if not in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That has been Tyreek Hill’s story his whole football career, if not life. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025 If the stablecoin legislation moves forward on its own, it could be passed by the end of July, if not sooner, depending on the extent of differences that need to be resolved between the the House and Senate versions. Owen Tedford, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 All these technologies show promise in helping more people, if not reach Super Ager status, then achieve a longer health span by either delaying the onset of disease or aggressively treating conditions to prevent progression and complications. Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 More Pro Wrestling: Pro Wrestling Legend Jim Ross Shares Major Surgery Update Since then, Asuka continued to be one of the top-performing wrestlers in WWE, quickly establishing herself as one of the best female wrestlers in the history of the company if not the world. Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for if not

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“If not.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/if%20not. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!