Definitions

what if

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

CONJUNCTION

suppose that

Synonyms

WEAK

but imagine supposing that

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.

“That’s third-state thinking. You’ll never get anywhere if you what-if everything. You’ve got to live in the now. The first state.”

From Literature

Mattingly said he doesn’t play the what-if game when thinking about that team.

From Los Angeles Times

One can even detect, in this brilliant, captivating Reichardt gem about fortune and fate, a what-if attached to her disaffected male protagonist: Would today’s version of James, just as adrift and arrogant, steal art to assuage his emptiness?

From Los Angeles Times

"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