the conditional
noun
grammar
: the mood or form that is used to say that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
The conditional is often marked by the word "if."
Examples of the conditional in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Iran has not said anything about such a joint effort or committed publicly to abandoning uranium enrichment under the conditional ceasefire agreement.
—
CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The status of the pick will only sort of begin to crystallize in the weeks ahead, thanks to the conditional 2026 first-round pick that went to Boston in the Brandon Carlo trade.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
With the deal, the conditional first-round selection the Sharks received from the Oilers last March, as part of a trade that sent defenseman Jake Walman to Edmonton, now becomes an unprotected pick.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
The city is arguing that those two dozen or so times, spanning from October 2024 to July 2025, constitute violations of the conditional 2011 arrangement.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
City staff are recommending approval of the conditional use permit and site review for the new restaurant, but subject to several conditions.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
For Isserlis, the conditional nature of the arrangement is painful in and of itself.
—John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Approval by the Planning Commission included 156 conditions to the tentative tract map and four conditions each to the design review and the conditional use permit.
—Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
The vote to grant the conditional approval was 4-1, with Commissioner Dave Eagle opposed.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2026
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CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The status of the pick will only sort of begin to crystallize in the weeks ahead, thanks to the conditional 2026 first-round pick that went to Boston in the Brandon Carlo trade.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
With the deal, the conditional first-round selection the Sharks received from the Oilers last March, as part of a trade that sent defenseman Jake Walman to Edmonton, now becomes an unprotected pick.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
The city is arguing that those two dozen or so times, spanning from October 2024 to July 2025, constitute violations of the conditional 2011 arrangement.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
City staff are recommending approval of the conditional use permit and site review for the new restaurant, but subject to several conditions.
—Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
For Isserlis, the conditional nature of the arrangement is painful in and of itself.
—John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026
Approval by the Planning Commission included 156 conditions to the tentative tract map and four conditions each to the design review and the conditional use permit.
—Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
The vote to grant the conditional approval was 4-1, with Commissioner Dave Eagle opposed.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The conditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20conditional. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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