as if

Idioms  

1. Also, as though. As it would be, as in He decided to accept, as if it really mattered, or John scowled as though he were really angry. The first idiom dates from the late 1500s, the variant from the late 1700s. Also see make as if.

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Example Sentences

When the pair fought, it wouldn’t be unusual for Konkle’s father to glance knowingly at his daughter, as if to say, Can you believe mom’s being like this?

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

There was no-one else around to help, and Asadian said he backed off before seeing the attacker walk into the greengrocer's next to the bus stop, as if he was a "normal shopper".

From BBC • May 3, 2026

It sounds as if sleep training is highly effective, but there’s a problem.

From Slate • May 3, 2026

Joint ventures by OpenAI, Anthropic and others look as if the companies could be paying partners to use their software, not selling it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

He pointed to a patch of fading mushrooms that looked as if they’d dropped their color on the ground like a cloak.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman