English Explanatory Dictionary

as if

English dictionary entry

Meanings

conj
  1. As though; in a manner suggesting.
  2. In mimicry of.
  3. Indicating something that the speaker deems very unlikely, or is adamant that he or she would not do (see also interjection sense below).
intj
  1. Indicates that the speaker deems something highly unlikely.

Pronunciation

/ˌæz‿ˈɪf/ En-au-as if.ogg /əz‿ˈɪf/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-as if.wav

Word forms

as if

Etymology

From Middle English as ȝif, alls iff (“as if”), from Old English *ealswā ġif, attested only as swā ġif (“as if”), equivalent to as + if. Compare Dutch alsof (“as if”), Low German as of (“as if”), German als ob (“as if”).

Synonyms

like

Related words

as it were

Derived words

as-if rule look as if one has been dragged through a hedge backwards make as if
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