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
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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
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 | Mheim@al.com, 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
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 | Mheim@al.com, 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
That insight often comes from someone testing a previously unchallenged assumption.—
Mark Nevins,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Showdown at Little Rock Similar assumptions guided events even in places where desegregation appeared to be working.—
Essence,
Essence,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Accurately recording weather conditions is no easy task, so the dataset comes with some limitations.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
-
The officer was being treated for his wounds, but no other condition information was immediately available from the Sheriff’s Office.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Now, an actor has shot down the most prevalent finale theory about her character explicitly.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Zoom in: Here are 10 theories, based on conversations with dozens of top Democrats, on what went wrong and what needs to change.—
Alex Thompson,
Axios,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The latter contains a mandatory fee-shifting provision that will require billionaire Steve Sarowitz and Wayfarer Studios to pay damages.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
21 Mar. 2025
-
The ship is capable of delivering ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to aircraft carrier groups and other naval forces, serving as a shuttle ship or station ship.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
There are some givens in the B’s lineup, as long as there’s good health.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2024
-
About the only givens seemingly would be Bam Adebayo making first-team All-Defense for the first time, after second-team such nods the past four seasons, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. making first-team All-Rookie.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
Holtec can go ahead with the tube repairs on its schedule, but the company does so at its own risk as the NRC will decide whether the repairs meet requirements in the end, Burnell said.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Gary contends the user rates for the three communities are decades old and too low to meet the requirements of a federal consent decree.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The commission said there have been 148 such stipulations since the process was started in 2003.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2025
-
In July 2021, the Oscar nominee filed a lawsuit against distributor The Walt Disney Company, alleging that its simultaneous release of Black Widow in theaters and on streaming service Disney+ breached a stipulation in her contract that it be released exclusively in theaters.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The California Department of Human Resources recently released statewide guidance on exceptions to the return-to-work order.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Today, economic uncertainty is a constant, not an exception.—
Scott Hutcheson,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
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