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

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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

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 What is not an if is that the NBA Board of Governors have to sign off on the initial sale to Iger and Kushner at their September 15 and 16 meeting in NYC. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
  1. assumption
  2. condition
  3. theory
  4. provision
  5. given
  6. requirement
  7. stipulation
  8. exception
Noun
  • The alternative is to allow each side’s strategy to reinforce the other’s worst assumptions until escalation begins to look less like a choice than an inevitability.
    — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Bareilles is mourning a few things — the deaths of close friends, dreams of easy fertility, assumptions of female autonomy, the American dream — but the music soars, more often than not.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of assumption
Noun
  • The comments were laid out in a two-page letter published via Telegram, as the country set its conditions for reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and touted the prospect of a return to diplomatic negotiations.
    — Sam Meredith,Lim Hui Jie,Mike Sheen, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of condition
Noun
  • The lipstick index is an economic theory holding that sales of affordable discretionary spending or luxuries skyrocket when consumers believe an economic recession is impending.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Yet Turing’s theory of computation wasn’t really about computers, at least not at first.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of theory
Noun
  • Then the judge looked closely at the deal that had been struck, which included a provision to proceed straight to sentencing and recommend a short term of probation.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Coastal Commission signed off on the project a few years ago, after tussles over low-cost housing provisions during the course of erecting yet another luxury hotel.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 28 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
  • Some have no down payment requirements, most have below-average interest rates and many come with lower closing costs and monthly payments, thanks to no PMI requirements.
    — Dan Simms, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This allows individuals to evaluate the organization's mission, team dynamics, and actual time requirements.
    — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of requirement
Noun
  • If enforced, the retail stipulation could benefit global rivals such as Heineken as well as smaller local brewers including Keroche Breweries and African Originals.
    — Martin K.N Siele, semafor.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Because Lindsay Clancy agreed to what’s called a stipulation of facts in the case, prosecutors don’t have to present all of their evidence in court.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of stipulation
Noun
  • With rare exceptions, EV sound is little more than an affectation.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Washington had carved out exceptions for itself and some European countries to buy Russian oil, and the Biden administration had even encouraged India to buy Russian oil under a price cap as part of a plan to stabilize the global oil market.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of exception

Phrases Containing if

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idylls
if
if anything
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Cite this Entry

“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on if

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about if

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