if
1 Americanconjunction
-
in case that; granting or supposing that; on condition that.
Sing if you want to. Stay indoors if it rains. I'll go if you do.
-
even though.
an enthusiastic if small audience.
-
whether.
He asked if I knew Spanish.
-
(used to introduce an exclamatory phrase).
If only Dad could see me now!
-
when or whenever.
If it was raining, we had to play inside.
noun
-
a supposition; uncertain possibility.
The future is full of ifs.
-
a condition, requirement, or stipulation.
There are too many ifs in his agreement.
idioms
conjunction
-
in case that, or on condition that
if you try hard it might work
if he were poor, would you marry him?
-
used to introduce an indirect question. In this sense, if approaches the meaning of whether
-
even though
an attractive if awkward girl
-
-
used to introduce expressions of desire, with only
if I had only known
-
used to introduce exclamations of surprise, dismay, etc
if this doesn't top everything!
-
-
as it would be if; as though
he treats me as if I were junior to him
noun
-
an uncertainty or doubt
the big if is whether our plan will work at all
-
a condition or stipulation
I won't have any ifs or buts
abbreviation
Usage
If meaning “whether,” as in I haven't decided if I'll go, is sometimes criticized, but the usage is long established as standard.
Related Words
If, provided, providing imply a condition on which something depends. If is general. It may be used to indicate suppositions or hypothetical conditions (often involving doubt or uncertainty): If you like, we can go straight home. If I had known, I wouldn't have gone. If may mean even though: If I am wrong, you are not right. It may mean whenever: If I do not understand, I ask questions. Provided always indicates some stipulation: I will subscribe ten dollars provided ( on the condition ) that you do, too. Provided he goes, we can go along. Providing means the same as provided, that is, just in case some certain thing should happen: We will buy the house, providing ( provided ) we can get a mortgage.
Etymology
Origin of if
First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of yif, Old English gif, gef; akin to Old Norse ef “if,” Gothic ibai “whether,” Old High German iba “condition, stipulation”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The team looks focused, and even if one or two top players are off their games, the magic of being nine deep is knowing there’s always someone ready to come to the rescue.
From Los Angeles Times
Cole delivered a comic prayer referencing the incident: “Lord, if there are any white men out there with Tourette’s, I advise you to tell them to read the room tonight, Lord. It might not go the way they think.”
From Los Angeles Times
Their 129-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday at Chase Center was a step in the right direction, even if the Warriors didn’t offer much of a challenge.
From Los Angeles Times
In an affidavit, seen by the BBC, the messaging platform added that users could continue using the app even if they opted out of sharing data with Meta for advertising.
From BBC
It also said WhatsApp does not share user data with Meta for advertising purposes "except where a user chooses to use optional features", and that data will not be shared if those features are not used.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
