if
1 Americanconjunction
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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.
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even though.
an enthusiastic if small audience.
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whether.
He asked if I knew Spanish.
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(used to introduce an exclamatory phrase).
If only Dad could see me now!
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when or whenever.
If it was raining, we had to play inside.
noun
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a supposition; uncertain possibility.
The future is full of ifs.
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a condition, requirement, or stipulation.
There are too many ifs in his agreement.
idioms
conjunction
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in case that, or on condition that
if you try hard it might work
if he were poor, would you marry him?
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used to introduce an indirect question. In this sense, if approaches the meaning of whether
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even though
an attractive if awkward girl
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used to introduce expressions of desire, with only
if I had only known
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used to introduce exclamations of surprise, dismay, etc
if this doesn't top everything!
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as it would be if; as though
he treats me as if I were junior to him
noun
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an uncertainty or doubt
the big if is whether our plan will work at all
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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 tribunal heard an inspector "intercepted" Mia, telling him the reason for the visit was "to establish if regulated activities were taking place at the clinic", after receiving complaints from members of the public.
From BBC
The inspector then asked Mia again if he was a doctor.
From BBC
"I've never cried so much in my entire life, if I'm honest. It's affected me emotionally - mentally, my health," she said.
From BBC
"I hope he does the right thing. I will be horrified if he is still in post at the end of the day."
From BBC
In 2024, 10.5% of patients waited 12 hours or more at major A&E units from arrival to the point where they were treated and discharged or found a bed on a ward if they needed to be admitted.
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.
