English Explanatory Dictionary

what if

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adv
  1. Used to introduce a suggestion or proposal for a future event.
  2. Used to introduce a speculation about a future event.
  3. Used to introduce a speculation about a past event. Often the basis for counterfactual historical interpretations.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-what if.wav

Word forms

what if

Etymology

Dates back at least to Old English hwæt ġif, of the same meaning. A similar expression occurs in Latin in the Vulgate, Acts 23:9, "Factus est autem clamor magnus. Et surgentes quidam pharisaeorum, pugnabant, decentes: Nihil mali inveniumus in homine isto: quid si Spiritus locutus est ei, aut angelus?" ("And there arose a great cry. And some of the Pharisees rising up, strove, saying: We find no evil in this man. What if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?" Douay-Rheims translation)

Synonyms

what about how about

Related words

what now

Derived words

what-if

Translations

Czech: co takhle Czech: co kdyby Czech: co když Finnish: entä jos Finnish: mitä jos French: et si German: was wenn Greek: και αν Norwegian: hva om Old English: hwæt ġif Old English: hū ġif Polish: a jeśli Portuguese: que tal Portuguese: e se Spanish: y si Spanish: qué tal si Spanish: qué pasaría si Swedish: tänk om Turkish: peki ya Hungarian: mi lenne, ha
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