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
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Recent Examples of if
So which team has best chance of actually winning?
Keeler: Deion Sanders taking CU Buffs to College Football Playoff feels like when, not an if.
—
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about it: the Rangers can’t waste this opportunity against a tanking opponent.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023
There’s no questions or ifs or buts, that is the end of it.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
But still, they should be haunted by the if-onlys.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 Feb. 2023
As a result, discontent with the manager is growing, and with a 7 ½-month gap between the end of qualifying and the start of this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, this would be the time to make a change - if, indeed, a change is coming.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2022
On Monday, Circa Sports posted Georgia as a 3-point favorite - with the over/under at 50.5 - if, or when, the Tide clinches the SEC West.
—Mark Heim | [email protected], al, 15 Nov. 2021
OOF: If the Senate manages to pass its health-care bill -- and that's a mammoth IF -- the House seems ready to give it the nod, too, my colleague Paul Kane writes.
—Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post, 17 July 2017
But if all goes as planned – a big IF in the restaurant business –
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2017
Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 10 Dec. 2024
There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s about it: the Rangers can’t waste this opportunity against a tanking opponent.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 6 Sep. 2023
There’s no questions or ifs or buts, that is the end of it.
—Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 9 Aug. 2023
But still, they should be haunted by the if-onlys.
—Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 9 Feb. 2023
As a result, discontent with the manager is growing, and with a 7 ½-month gap between the end of qualifying and the start of this fall’s World Cup in Qatar, this would be the time to make a change - if, indeed, a change is coming.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2022
On Monday, Circa Sports posted Georgia as a 3-point favorite - with the over/under at 50.5 - if, or when, the Tide clinches the SEC West.
—Mark Heim | [email protected], al, 15 Nov. 2021
OOF: If the Senate manages to pass its health-care bill -- and that's a mammoth IF -- the House seems ready to give it the nod, too, my colleague Paul Kane writes.
—Paige Winfield Cunningham, Washington Post, 17 July 2017
But if all goes as planned – a big IF in the restaurant business –
—Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for if
Noun
-
The assumption is the Wolves won’t be able to do that in each of their final five games, even with one of the league’s most favorable remaining schedules.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Intricate supply chains and trillions of dollars in investments—made over years based on assumptions of a world where trade barriers were being reduced or would remain constant—are now being upended.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Some of your co-stars have described treacherous filming conditions in Thailand.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The Beaufort area experienced several flash flood warnings a day earlier amid severe weather conditions, but the water levels had subsided significantly by the time of the crash, according to KSDK.—
Danielle Wallace,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Even if someone attempted to build one of the machines depicted in these blueprints, however, researchers point out that undecidability is a feature of physical theories and cannot literally exist in real experiments.—
Charlie Wood,
Wired News,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Within just a few years, Einstein would publish his theory of relativity and launch an entirely new era of physics.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The terms of the penalty provision—expanded to American women by virtue of the 19th Amendment—have never been enforced.—
Made by History,
Time,
2 Apr. 2025
-
The final product can only include provisions dealing with taxes, spending or the debt limit, and any new spending must be paid for.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
There are some givens in the B’s lineup, as long as there’s good health.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
26 Sep. 2024
Noun
-
Applicants still need to meet requirements, such as having good moral character and being a lawful permanent resident at the time of their naturalization interview.—
Celina Tebor,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2025
-
The Transportation Security Administration confirmed to USA TODAY that the agency still had plans to enforce the identification requirement for every adult traveler starting Wednesday, May 7.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The two parties had yet to reach an agreement on the exact language for the stipulation, and planned to continue discussions overnight and into a hearing Thursday.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2025
-
But Albert Breer reported the NFL has changed those eligibility rules, removing the playoff stipulation.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The other exception was in 2020, which was a pretty unique situation since the market did not know how to account for a global pandemic.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The only exception was April 2 against the Cubs, when Chicago scored four runs in the second inning.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“If.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/if. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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