Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hwuht, hwot, wuht, wot if]
- /ʰwʌt, ʰwɒt, wʌt, wɒt ɪf/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [hwuht, hwot, wuht, wot if]
- /ʰwʌt, ʰwɒt, wʌt, wɒt ɪf/
Definitions of what if words
- adjective what if (used interrogatively before nouns): What news? What clothes shall I pack? 1
- adjective what if whatever: Take what supplies you need. 1
- noun what if the true nature or identity of something, or the sum of its characteristics: a lecture on the whats and hows of crop rotation. 1
- adverb what if to what extent or degree? how much?: What does it matter? 1
- adverb what if (used to introduce a prepositional phrase beginning with with): What with storms and all, their return was delayed. 1
- adverb what if Obsolete. for what reason or purpose? why? 1
Information block about the term
Origin of what if
First appearance:
before 1980 One of the 1% newest English words
First recorded in 1980-85
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for What if
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
what if popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 51% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 53% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.
what if usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for what if
conjunction what if
- assuming — You use assuming or assuming that when you are considering a possible situation or event, so that you can think about the consequences.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with w
- Words starting with wh
- Words starting with wha
- Words starting with what
- Words starting with whati
- Words starting with whatif