if

noun

ˈif How to pronounce if (audio)
Definition of ifnext
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

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.
Recent Examples of if But if Aaron Donald returns — still an if, but a real one — Young could force opponents to plan for a third pass rusher. — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 28 July 2026 Given this history, if Iraq does ultimately end up protecting Kurdistan’s airspace, and that’s definitely a big if, that would certainly be one for the books. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Now, remember, all of these ifs depend on a government that remains feckless and people who are too disparate to stop the data center build-out. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 June 2026 That’s a big if, especially for someone who isn’t looking down the road. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 3 June 2026 The if, ultimately, hinges on Bryant’s health. — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 26 May 2026 If those gains hold up, tax refunds wear off and the market takes a turn – three big ifs – consumers may start to pull back. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 21 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
  1. assumption
  2. condition
  3. theory
  4. provision
  5. given
  6. requirement
  7. stipulation
  8. exception
Noun
  • Preconceptions, assumptions, and advance knowledge in the viewing public are regarded as impediments to the capacity of the tale to surprise, startle, or transport.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Computer models often use assumptions to manage complex atomic calculations.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of assumption
Noun
  • One owner of an EFL club, who spoke to The Athletic on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, was more pessimistic.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The last three Democratic presidents inherited terrible economic conditions and had to spend to rescue the country from soaring joblessness, the housing crisis and the pandemic, respectively.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • Quanta spoke with Cao about evidence for the programmed theory of aging, what happens at each stage, and why aging mammals are like trees shedding leaves.
    — Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The sheriff's office also sought to rebut theories that had circulated publicly about the case, including claims that evidence was missing or the crime scene had been manipulated.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of theory
Noun
  • Thanks to a narrow provision in the tax code, IRS Topic 419, people can offset the taxes from their gambling winnings.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Because the tax was not apportioned among the states as the Constitution required, those provisions were unconstitutional.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of provision
Noun
  • There were some givens (the Detroit Tigers’ dealing Tarik Skubal), some surprises (the Baltimore Orioles’ moving on from Adley Rutschman) and plenty of hugs given along the way.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Schedule flexibility, reliable childcare, predictable transportation—these are treated as givens in how jobs are designed.
    — Caroline Fairchild, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of given
Noun
  • This latter requirement is contingent on very strong or extreme geomagnetic activity.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • State media published the list of requirements from Zolghadr, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
    — Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • The stipulation — not included in the Cleveland settlement — could raise concerns about patient privacy as the DOJ continues to press other hospitals for patient data.
    — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Consider, also, the Powell Doctrine’s stipulation that military force should be a last resort.
    — KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of stipulation
Noun
  • The Constitution protects defendants from being prosecuted for the same crime twice, but Mangione's dueling state and federal cases fall into one of the exceptions for double jeopardy.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Primary history The mid-August primaries have a long history of lackluster turnout – with one major exception.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of exception

Phrases Containing if

Browse Nearby Words

idylls
if
if anything
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on if

Nglish: Translation of if for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about if

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All