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

In a Truth Social post External link announcing the move, Trump was silent on what, if anything, Pulte’s new role could mean for the futures of Fannie and Freddie.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

Tory Gavito, the president of Way to Win, a progressive donor network and research organization, told Salon that she sees the autopsy as basically agnostic on what, if anything, the Democrats should stand for.

From Salon • May 22, 2026

“But what if it doesn’t, Gabe? Do you have a plan for yourself if this is something you can’t fix?”

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz