what-if

[hwuht-if, hwot‑, wuht‑, wot‑]

adjective

1. hypothetical.

   a what-if scenario.

noun

1. a hypothetical case or situation; conjecture.

   a series of what-ifs.

what-if

noun

1. informal,  a hypothetical question; speculation

   one of the great what-ifs of modern history

Word History and Origins

Origin of what if¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

"LLMs are particularly useful for summarising long documents, first-pass drafting, coding snippets, and 'what-if' exploration."

From BBC

He takes a wisp of an idea, a what-if, and turns it into a viable aesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times

That isn’t to say Burns’ safely declarative dialogue and what-if storytelling won’t spur you to think of your own relationship and matters of fulfillment.

From Los Angeles Times

Original screenwriter Alex Garland, meanwhile, has become a signature filmmaker of his own, recently releasing the disturbing what-if action movie “Civil War.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rangers folk may feel tortured by those what-if moments as much as the missed penalty much later on.

From BBC