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• what-if
  what-if

  adjective

  hypothetical.
• what if
  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.

what-if

American  

[hwuht-if, hwot‑, wuht‑, wot‑] / ˈʰwʌtˈɪf, ˈʰwɒt‑, ˈwʌt‑, ˈwɒt‑ /

adjective

1. hypothetical.

   a what-if scenario.

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noun

1. a hypothetical case or situation; conjecture.

   a series of what-ifs.

what-if British  

noun

1. informal a hypothetical question; speculation

   one of the great what-ifs of modern history

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what if Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of what-if

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

what-if what if

Perhaps the trickiest what-if scenario involves eldercare concerns.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

Whatever unfolds across these extraordinary coming hours, we are about to find out whether the biggest fight in British boxing history is going to be a reality or destined to remain the sport's greatest what-if.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

Stacy Schlachter, senior vice president of sales at Penske Logistics, said customers increasingly ask the third-party logistics provider to help them plan for what-if scenarios.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2025

And the pushed-down-out-of.sight, what-if, hope-waiting portion of Christopher’s heart rose up in his chest, and he felt it beating double time under his skin.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

But what if I want the sausage another way?

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

I would hear questions like, what if Warsh just raises rates aggressively and goes against the committee?

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

But what if they fail to keep pace with medical breakthroughs?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

I don't have any symptoms, but what if they do find something?

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

But what if neither of us were there…would she cry?

From "The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman" by Gennifer Choldenko