what-if

[ hwuht-if, hwot‐, wuht‐, wot‐ ]

/ ˈʰwʌtˈɪf, ˈʰwɒt‐, ˈwʌt‐, ˈwɒt‐ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR what-if ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

hypothetical: a what-if scenario.

noun

a hypothetical case or situation; conjecture: a series of what-ifs.

Nearby words

what's the matter, what's up, what's what, what's with, what've, what-if, what-you-may-call-it, whata, whataboutery, whataboutism, whatchamacallit

Origin of what-if

First recorded in 1980–85

Definition for what if (2 of 2)

what

[ hwuht, hwot, wuht, wot; unstressed hwuh t, wuh t ]

/ ʰwʌt, ʰwɒt, wʌt, wɒt; unstressed ʰwət, wət /

pronoun

(used interrogatively as a request for specific information): What is the matter?

(used interrogatively to inquire about the character, occupation, etc., of a person): What does he do?

(used interrogatively to inquire as to the origin, identity, etc., of something): What are those birds?

(used interrogatively to inquire as to the worth, usefulness, force, or importance of something): What is wealth without friends?

(used interrogatively to request a repetition of words or information not fully understood, usually used in elliptical constructions): You need what?

(used interrogatively to inquire the reason or purpose of something, usually used in elliptical constructions): What of it?

how much?: What does it cost?

(used relatively to indicate that which): I will send what was promised.

whatever; anything that: Say what you please. Come what may.

the kind of thing or person that: He said what everyone expected he would. They are just what I was expecting.

as much as; as many as: We should each give what we can.

the thing or fact that (used in parenthetic clauses): He went to the meeting and, what was worse, insisted on speaking.

(used to indicate more to follow, additional possibilities, alternatives, etc.): You know what? Shall we go or what?

(used as an intensifier in exclamatory phrases, often followed by an indefinite article): What luck! What an idea!

British. don't you agree?: An unusual chap, what?

Nonstandard. that; which; who: She's the one what told me.

noun

the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics: a lecture on the whats and hows of crop rotation.

adjective

(used interrogatively before nouns): What news? What clothes shall I pack?

whatever: Take what supplies you need.

adverb

to what extent or degree? how much?: What does it matter?

(used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with): What with storms and all, their return was delayed.

Obsolete. for what reason or purpose? why?

interjection

(used in exclamatory expressions, often followed by a question): What, no salt?

conjunction

Older Use. as much as; as far as: He helps me what he can.

Origin of what

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwæt; cognate with German was, Dutch wat, Old Norse hvat; akin to Gothic hwa, Latin quod, Greek tí

Usage note

25. See doubt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for what if (1 of 2)

what

/ (wɒt, unstressed wət) /

determiner

used with a noun in requesting further information about the identity or categorization of somethingwhat job does he do?
(as pronoun)what is her address?
(used in indirect questions)does he know what man did this?; tell me what he said

the (person, thing, persons, or things) thatwe photographed what animals we could see
(as pronoun)bring me what you've written; come what may

(intensifier; used in exclamations)what a good book!

adverb

in what respect? to what degree?what do you care?

pronoun

not standard which, who, or that, when used as relative pronounsthis is the man what I saw in the park yesterday

what about what do you think, know, feel, etc, concerning?

what for

for what purpose? why?
informal a punishment or reprimand (esp in the phrase give (a person) what for)

what have you someone, something, or somewhere unknown or unspecifiedcars, motorcycles, or what have you

what if

what would happen if?
what difference would it make if?

what matter what does it matter?

what's what informal the true or real state of affairs

interjection

informal don't you think? don't you agree?splendid party, what?

Word Origin for what

Old English hwæt; related to Old Frisian whet, Old High German hwaz (German was), Old Norse hvatr

usage

The use of are in sentences such as what we need are more doctors is common, although many people think is should be used: what we need is more doctors

British Dictionary definitions for what if (2 of 2)

what-if

noun

informal a hypothetical question; speculationone of the great what-ifs of modern history

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with what if (1 of 2)

what if

Suppose that, as in What if the speaker doesn't get here in time? This expression is in effect a shortening of “what would happen if.” It was first recorded about 1420.

Idioms and Phrases with what if (2 of 2)

what

In addition to the idioms beginning with what

what about
what do you know
what do you take me for?
what for
what gives
what goes around comes around
what have you
what if
what in the world
what is more
what it takes
what makes one tick
what of it?
what the hell
what with

also see:

come what may
for all one is (what it's) worth
get what's coming to one
it's (what) a zoo
just what the doctor ordered
know the score (what's what)
left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing
no matter (what)
on earth, what
or what?
practice what you preach
sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, what's
so what
where's (what's) the beef?
you know something (you know what)