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.

But what if they turn out to play cameos?

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

I certainly hope not, but what if it ends up like Chinatown, where all the Chinese people moved to the San Gabriel Valley?”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

But what if the AI strategies become predominant?

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

For more than 40 years, Steven Spielberg has been asking audiences the same question: what if we're not alone?

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

“We were trying to figure out what, if anything, would make the ratings agencies downgrade,” said Danny.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis