what if
The phrase "what if" is commonly used to introduce hypothetical scenarios, often to explore potential outcomes or consequences.
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Definition
B1General
(common)Used to ask about the possible outcomes or consequences of a hypothetical situation.
Example
- What if it rains tomorrow? Should we cancel the picnic?
- What if we had taken a different route? Would we have arrived earlier?
B2Speculative
(common)Used to introduce a scenario that is uncertain or imagined, often to consider different possibilities.
Example
- What if we could travel to the past?
- What if we tried a new strategy for the project?
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "what if":
even ifwhat aboutjust in caseas ifif onlyin the eventif anythingin case