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.
So while he might know that his brother’s expectation that you pay for meals out is unreasonable, the cost may be worth it to him, if only to avoid disrupting the system.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 17, 2026
Tourists hauled their suitcases over the doorstep into the fray, fresh off a flight or rushing to make one, if only they could get one last chicken finger first.
From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026
Playing tough guys early in his career, Hunnam says, was his way of trying to bridge the gap between him and his father, to prove he could be like him, even if only in fiction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
And that old saw has always been a fairly decent shorthand, if only because older people tend to be the most reliable voters.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
It probably wouldn't do much good, but it was worth trying, if only to reduce Belet's pain.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
