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.

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

"I thought, 'I'm going to download the app and give it a try. If nothing happens, it doesn't matter because nothing else is working out for me. But what if something does happen?'" he said.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

I whimper, afraid to even ask, because what if he’s wrong?

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz