Phrase guide

big if

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An unlikely but necessary condition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 2004, Dale Brown, Dreamland: Strike Zone, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 217, "If they believe us," said the admiral, "and that's a big if, then we're in a race with them to find this thing. Because if they grab it—"

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: stort spørgsmålstegn — unlikely but necessary condition
  • Finnish: iso jos — unlikely but necessary condition
  • Polish: wielka niewiadoma — unlikely but necessary condition