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.
even though.
an enthusiastic if small audience.
whether.
He asked if I knew Spanish.
(used to introduce an exclamatory phrase).
If only Dad could see me now!
when or whenever.
If it was raining, we had to play inside.
a supposition; uncertain possibility.
The future is full of ifs.
a condition, requirement, or stipulation.
There are too many ifs in his agreement.
in case that, or on condition that
if you try hard it might work
if he were poor, would you marry him?
used to introduce an indirect question. In this sense, if approaches the meaning of whether
even though
an attractive if awkward girl
used to introduce expressions of desire, with only
if I had only known
used to introduce exclamations of surprise, dismay, etc
if this doesn't top everything!
as it would be if; as though
he treats me as if I were junior to him
an uncertainty or doubt
the big if is whether our plan will work at all
a condition or stipulation
I won't have any ifs or buts
If meaning “whether,” as in I haven't decided if I'll go, is sometimes criticized, but the usage is long established as standard.
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.
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”
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If new sales stay this low, they will hurt fund managers, who depend on fund growth to boost their stock prices.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 3, 2026
If only it were even slightly entertaining — maybe they’ll tackle that in the inevitable sequel.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026
"If I think it's Jude Bellingham or if I think it's England winning, it can be that, or it could be my girlfriend or whatever."
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
The native Ohioan said she had so far only seen "a lot of forklifts unloading trucks. If I am online and I see...a commotion and a fanfare, I will probably come back."
From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026
If you didn’t do it, you couldn’t have a tradish marriage, and not everyone was up to the task.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
