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
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Recent Examples of if
The new strategy means the doc fix happens only if Republicans can get a reconciliation package across the finish line — a big if.
—
Peter Sullivan, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
The question about Running Point getting a season 2 is not really an if, but a when.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
There is an if here, in other words.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
That’s a big if, needless to say.
—Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
If all goes well—and this is a huge if, Gialich readily acknowledges—Odin will fly by its target asteroid 301 days later.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
There was an if-not-now-then-when feeling in Buffalo this week.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025
New experimental and theoretical results, new tools and private sector investment are all adding to our growing sense that developing practical fusion energy is no longer an if but a when.
—Farhat Beg, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025
Yes, derivatives can pay off on all sorts of inflationary outcomes (if the counterparty is solvent enough to pay—a big if).
—James Berman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Peter Sullivan, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
The question about Running Point getting a season 2 is not really an if, but a when.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
There is an if here, in other words.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
That’s a big if, needless to say.
—Willing Davidson, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2025
If all goes well—and this is a huge if, Gialich readily acknowledges—Odin will fly by its target asteroid 301 days later.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
There was an if-not-now-then-when feeling in Buffalo this week.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025
New experimental and theoretical results, new tools and private sector investment are all adding to our growing sense that developing practical fusion energy is no longer an if but a when.
—Farhat Beg, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025
Yes, derivatives can pay off on all sorts of inflationary outcomes (if the counterparty is solvent enough to pay—a big if).
—James Berman, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
Finally, level 3 asset fair values must be calculated based on estimations and assumptions based on the latest available data on the measurement date.—
Tomas Milar,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
But if Trump does push ahead with 30% tariffs on EU imports, there is a broad assumption the ECB will cut rates in response.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Farrer acknowledged challenging economic conditions and trade uncertainties but expressed confidence in the company's long-term success.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
-
The system adjusted automatically to changing weather conditions and energy prices—and cut both energy costs and carbon emissions by 15 to 20 percent.—
Gabriel René,
IEEE Spectrum,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
But Margulis took her theory further; in her view, symbiosis was the driving force of evolution, and many entities were likely composites.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
23 July 2025
-
Energized by these findings, Harland presented his theory to colleagues.—
Laura Poppick
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
That's in addition to the provisions about immediacy, burden of proof and discussions among doctors and patients.—
Olivia Aldridge,
NPR,
19 July 2025
-
Second, the only external provision to robot metabolism is energy and material in the form of robots or robot parts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Yes, this son of Curlin is the class of the field, but in this game, there are no givens.—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Assuming the roster gets back to full health, the givens ahead of Pelle in the rotation would be Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, Kel’el Ware, Andrew Wiggins and, perhaps, Davion Mitchell.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the lawsuit, Beshear and several Democratic attorneys general argued the freeze violated federal statutory and regulatory requirements.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
19 July 2025
-
In 2024, the Biden administration proposed expanding parole in place to undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens who met certain requirements, such as having lived in the country for a minimum number of years.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
The Street Fight stipulation opens the door for Rodriguez’s fellow Judgment Day members to help her win, which will keep Ripley looking strong even in defeat.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
The group agreed to publish the strip, with one stipulation: The name had to change.—
Chris Carra,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Assets left running for legitimate business reasons can be tagged with exception authorizations.—
Bojan Ilic,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
For the most part, every movie that DiCaprio is in is a DiCaprio movie, with a few exceptions — namely his team-ups with directors whose films are events in their own right, such as Quentin Tarantino and Christopher Nolan.—
Derek Lawrence,
EW.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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