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
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
That's a huge if against the best front line in the country, though.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
But the if of the team’s health looms.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
The if-then paradigm needs to be simplified.
—Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
But even if the prison system reopens those beds — a big if, experts noted — Colorado will still be 230 to 440 beds short in the coming years, according to the 159-page report Brakke presented to the budget committee Friday.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
With that in mind, even if Cooper succeeds in winning over city leaders—a big if—the potential challenges in leveraging Champions Point’s biggest selling point may only further stymie Cooper in turning the long-unsellable property into something people will pay to visit.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2025
If Florida is out of the way due to missing Aleksander Barkov (still a big if), the Atlantic really opens up.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
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
That's a huge if against the best front line in the country, though.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026
But the if of the team’s health looms.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
The if-then paradigm needs to be simplified.
—Michael Isaacson, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
But even if the prison system reopens those beds — a big if, experts noted — Colorado will still be 230 to 440 beds short in the coming years, according to the 159-page report Brakke presented to the budget committee Friday.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2025
With that in mind, even if Cooper succeeds in winning over city leaders—a big if—the potential challenges in leveraging Champions Point’s biggest selling point may only further stymie Cooper in turning the long-unsellable property into something people will pay to visit.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2025
If Florida is out of the way due to missing Aleksander Barkov (still a big if), the Atlantic really opens up.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
Over time, this creates a foundation for a feedback loop in which incentive programs can be designed and optimized based on measurable outcomes rather than assumptions.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The important thing is that infinity is no longer the default assumption.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But through it all, Hall discovered football, and his condition wasn't going to keep him from the game that would define his life.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Gold prices are driven by inflation expectations, central bank policy, global economic conditions and investor demand.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Stirs some theories, too, about said coach’s real feelings about the pick.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In a new book, Geoff Kelly traces how the artworks moved through criminal networks, where violence took the lives of key suspects and witnesses, and challenges long-circulating theories by revisiting key details.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Another provision allows pharmacists to provide ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug often prescribed for animals, over-the-counter for adults without a prescription.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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These provisions combine to make every part of the city’s education spending function like a ratchet.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Where the show’s values were once givens, almost diorama labels, now they’re presented as more fugitive and unstable, what its characters would hope the world to be.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Among geologists, there are givens: Humans don’t build things that last a million years.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The spokesperson noted that the pilot had completed all mandatory medical examinations in compliance with regulatory requirements and held a Class I medical certification.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The information provided is crucial in identifying whether the state meets federal requirements for various forms of disaster assistance.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That comment period was initiated today, and the Board of Trustees will evaluate the proposal in accordance with policy stipulations.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The only stipulation was that all hopefuls for office could not team up with others and no local or national political parties were allowed.—
Jerry Shnay,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Avdija took exception to Castle’s actions and shoved him.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Future observations, especially across more wavelengths and with next-generation detectors, will be crucial to confirm whether this behavior is typical or a rare exception.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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