if only

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In the domino comparison, it is as if only the final pieces determine the end result.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

That’s because people feel comfortable spending more money, and saving less, when they see the value of their assets grow — even if only on paper.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Or maybe, Elizabeth Goldring impishly suggests in “Holbein: Renaissance Master,” he meant that he’d happily take Communion if only the table were more beautiful—dressed up, say, like a Catholic altar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

We asked some parenting experts for their tips on how to pry those phones away from their offspring's hands – even if only for a short while.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

It must have been a comfort that her first name was unusual, if only in its spelling.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield