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• if
  if

  conjunction

  in case that; granting or supposing that; on condition that.
• IF
  IF

  abbreviation

  intermediate frequency

if

¹ American  

[if] / ɪf /

conjunction

1. 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.

2. even though.

   an enthusiastic if small audience.

3. whether.

   He asked if I knew Spanish.

4. (used to introduce an exclamatory phrase).

   If only Dad could see me now!

5. when or whenever.

   If it was raining, we had to play inside.

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noun

• ifs
  plural

1. a supposition; uncertain possibility.

   The future is full of ifs.

2. a condition, requirement, or stipulation.

   There are too many ifs in his agreement.

idioms

1. ifs, ands, or buts, reservations, restrictions, or excuses.

   I want that job finished today, and no ifs, ands, or buts.

if ² American  

Or IF

Radio.

1. intermediate frequency.

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if ¹ British  

/ ɪf /

conjunction

1. in case that, or on condition that

   if you try hard it might work

   if he were poor, would you marry him?

2. used to introduce an indirect question. In this sense, if approaches the meaning of whether

3. even though

   an attractive if awkward girl

4. 1. used to introduce expressions of desire, with only

      if I had only known

   2. used to introduce exclamations of surprise, dismay, etc

      if this doesn't top everything!

5. as it would be if; as though

   he treats me as if I were junior to him

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noun

1. an uncertainty or doubt

   the big if is whether our plan will work at all

2. a condition or stipulation

   I won't have any ifs or buts

IF ² British  

abbreviation

1. intermediate frequency

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if More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing if

• (if) push comes to shove
• as if
• damned if I do, damned if I don't
• make as if to
• no ifs or buts
• nothing if not
• what if

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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.

Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• ifs
  plural

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

See Examples For:

if IF ifs

They are now looking to reserve reliable vehicles and security coordinators so they can move staff out by road to neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates if airports shut down, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

“It certainly makes life easier for the team, the bullpen, if the starters are good,” said manager Dave Roberts during a conference call.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 10, 2026

The address issue has long been contentious in the woodsy town of 3,200 people on the Monterey Peninsula, where residents once threatened to secede from California if they were forced to number their homes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026

Now, police there are allowed to ask people to remove their face covering if they "reasonably believe" they are being used to conceal their identity to commit crime or anti-social behaviour.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

What if I make it back to camp and it’s all for nothing?

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

It’s what you put there because IF this thing works, that slice changes everything.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 23, 2025

Luis Rengifo, 29, IF, 0.3, 6.6: Rengifo hits the open market after seven seasons with the Angels and could command a two-or three-year deal at about a $10 million AAV.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2025

He told a publicist who worked at Wayfarer, “We should have a plan for IF she does the same when movie comes out. Plans make me feel more at ease.”

From Salon ● Dec. 23, 2024

Gyokeres began his career with IF Brommapojkarna in Sweden, leaving in 2017 before a spell with Brighton.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2024

“ENOUGH SQUABBLING, IF YOU PLEASE! Let us return to our studies,” Penelope said firmly, once she had placed the Planet Spud on a high shelf and corralled the three children back to their seats.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

But now there is a plan, not just a bunch of ifs and hopes, even if the Angels might have to take another step back to take two steps forward.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Essentially the Bank was trying to provide detail around some of the "ifs" and "maybes" to manage expectations of what outcomes are plausible if the Gulf impasse lasts several months.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

The money is now yours, no ifs, ands, or buts.

From Salon ● Mar. 24, 2026

Don’t look back with regret or what ifs.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 5, 2026

To all these questions I offer the same truism: ifs amazing what you can get used to.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides