if — ONAD · Shobdo

if /if, ɪf

▸ conjunction

1 (introducing a conditional clause) on the condition or supposition that; in the event that:

if you have a complaint, write to the director

if you like I'll put in a word for you.

▪ (with past tense) introducing a hypothetical situation:

if you had stayed, this would never have happened.

▪ whenever; every time:

if I go out she gets nasty.

2 despite the possibility that; no matter whether:

if it takes me seven years, I shall do it.

3 (often used in indirect questions) whether:

he asked if we would like some coffee

see if you can track it down.

4 [with modal] expressing a polite request:

if you wouldn't mind giving him a message?

if I could trouble you for your names?

5 expressing an opinion:

that's an awfully long walk, if you don't mind my saying so

if you ask me, he's in love.

6 expressing surprise or regret:

well, if it isn't Frank!

if I could just be left alone.

7 (with implied reservation) and perhaps not:

the new leaders have little if any control.

▪ used to admit something as being possible but regarded as relatively insignificant:

if there was any weakness, it was naiveté

so what if he did?

▪ despite being (used before an adjective or adverb to introduce a contrast):

she was honest, if a little brutal.

▸ noun a condition or supposition:

there are so many ifs and buts in the policy.

– PHRASES
if and only if
used to introduce a condition which is necessary as well as sufficient:

witches are real if and only if there are criteria for identifying witches.

if and when
at a future time (should it arise):

if and when the film gets the green light, be sure you've read the book first.

if anything
used to suggest tentatively that something may be the case (often the opposite of something previously implied):

I haven't made much of this—if anything, I've played it down.

if I were you
used to accompany a piece of advice:

I would go to see him if I were you.

if not
perhaps even (used to introduce a more extreme term than one first mentioned):

hundreds if not thousands of germs.

if only

1
even if for no other reason than:

Willy would have to tell George more, if only to keep him from pestering.

2
used to express a wish, especially regretfully:

if only I had listened to you.

if so
if that is the case.

– ORIGIN Old English gif, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch of and German ob.

If and whether are more or less interchangeable in sentences like I'll see if he left an address and I'll see whether he left an address, although whether is generally regarded as more formal and suitable for written use. But, although if and whether are often interchangeable, a distinction worth noting is that if is also used in conditional constructions and whether in expressing an alternative or possibility. Thus, tell me if you're going to be in town next week could be strictly interpreted as ‘you need not reply if you are not going to be in town,’ whereas tell me whether you're going to be in town next week clearly means ‘a reply is desired one way or the other.’.