Phrase guide

if only

conj · 5 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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1

conj

Meaning 1

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see if, only.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • It made me feel better, if only for a moment.
  • It won't be much fun if only guys turn up to the party.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

conj

Meaning 2

I wish that; would (that) (archaic). Signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If only I could win the lottery.
  • My gambling ex could come to his senses, if only.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

conj

Meaning 3

I wish that; would (that) (archaic). Signifies a regret about an action in the past.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • If only I had listened to my parents.
  • We didn't have that luxury. If only!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

conj

Meaning 4

Even if for no other reason than; only just.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I was pretty sure what I wanted, but I still tried on another if only to make sure.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

conj

Meaning 5

Signifies a hypothetical or wishful precondition, or one which would be simple but is nonetheless unlikely, for a hypothetical, counterfactual, or future outcome.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He could be a great student if only he got [or: if he only got] a little non-judgmental encouragement.
  • If you'd only quit interrupting me, I'll tell you!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

76 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: لَيْتَ (layta) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Arabic: تَمَنَّى (tamannā) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Armenian: երանի (erani) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Catalan: tant de bo — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Catalan: si — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Catalan: si només — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Catalan: si tan sols — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Catalan: encara bo — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Chinese Mandarin: 但願 /但愿 (dànyuàn) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Chinese Mandarin: ...就好了 (jiù hǎo le) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Czech: kéž by — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Czech: kéž — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Danish: gid — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Dutch: was het maar zo dat — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Finnish: jos vain — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Finnish: kunpa — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • French: si seulement — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • French: pour peu que — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • German: wenn auch — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • German: wenn doch nur — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • German: wenn bloß — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Gothic: 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹 (wainei) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Greek: είθε (eíthe) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Greek: μακάρι (makári) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Ancient Greek: ὄφελον (óphelon) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Ancient Greek: εἴθε (eíthe) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Hebrew: הַלְוַאי (halevái) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Hebrew: מִי יִתֵּן (mi yitén) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Hindi: काश (kāś) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Hungarian: bár — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Hungarian: bárcsak — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Italian: magari — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Italian: mi piacerebbe — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Italian: se solo — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Japanese: -らいいのになあ (-ra ii noni nā) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Japanese: -ならいいのになあ (-nara ii noni nā) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Japanese: -よいものを (yoi mono o) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Northern Kurdish: xwezî — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Latin: utinam — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Malay: sekira — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Malay: semoga — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Malay: kalaulah — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Marathi: जर का (jar kā) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Old English: ēalā — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Persian: کاش (kâš) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Polish: jeśli by — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Polish: jeśliby — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Polish: o ile — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Polish: byle — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Polish: bodaj — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Portuguese: oxalá — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Portuguese: tomara (que) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Portuguese: quem me dera (que) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Portuguese: quem dera (que) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Russian: хоте́лось бы (xotélosʹ by) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Russian: е́сли бы то́лько (jésli by tólʹko) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Russian: е́сли бы (jésli by) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Russian: кабы (kaby) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Russian: будь (budʹ) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Serbo-Croatian: да бар — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Serbo-Croatian: само да — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Serbo-Croatian: da bar — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Serbo-Croatian: samo da — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Slovene: če bi le — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Spanish: ojalá — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Spanish: si — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Spanish: si tan solo — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Spanish: si tan siquiera — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Turkish: keşke — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Turkmen: käşgä — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Ukrainian: я́кби (jákby) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Yiddish: הלוואי (halevay, alevay) — signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • Turkish: keşke — signifies a regret about an action in the past
  • French: ne fût-ce que — even if for no other reason than
  • French: ne serait-ce que — even if for no other reason than
  • Portuguese: quanto mais não seja — even if for no other reason than