what-if

noun

ˌ(h)wät-ˈif,
ˌ(h)wət- How to pronounce what-if (audio)
: a suppositional question
what-if adjective

Examples of what-if 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.
For all of movie history’s great what-if casting coulda-beens, Beetlejuice might have the best of all of them: Burton wanted Sammy Davis Jr. to play the titular poltergeist. Will Leitch, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2024 Predictive: Simulate what-if scenarios using digital twins for complex IT environments. Shailesh Manjrekar, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 Truth be told, what-if’s are the survival brain in action. Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2024 Another economic what-if: What if the Fed has ended up waiting too long to cut rates? Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for what-if 

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of what-if was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near what-if

Cite this Entry

“What-if.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what-if. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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