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if only. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
if only, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
if only in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
if only you have here. The definition of the word
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if only, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Conjunction
if only
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see if, only.
It made me feel better, if only for a moment.
It won't be much fun if only guys turn up to the party.
- (idiomatic) I wish that; signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future.
If only I could win the lottery.
My gambling ex could come to his senses, if only.
- (idiomatic) I wish that; signifies a regret about an action in the past.
If only I had listened to my parents.
We didn't have that luxury. If only!
- (idiomatic) Even if for no other reason than; only just.
I was pretty sure what I wanted, but I still tried on another if only to make sure.
- (idiomatic) Signifies a hypothetical or wishful precondition, or one which would be simple but is nonetheless unlikely, for a hypothetical, counterfactual, or future outcome.
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!
Antonyms
Translations
signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
- Arabic: لَيْتَ (ar) (layta), تَمَنَّى (tamannā) (a sentence in subjunctive mood follows)
- Armenian: երանի (hy) (erani)
- Catalan: tant de bo (ca), si (ca), si només, si tan sols, encara bo (ca)
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 但願/但愿 (zh) (dànyuàn), ...就好了 (jiù hǎo le)
- Czech: kéž by, kéž (cs)
- Danish: gid
- Dutch: was het maar zo dat, or use auxiliary hebben (nl) with inversion and maar (nl)
- Finnish: jos vain, kunpa
- French: si seulement (fr), pour peu que (fr)
- German: wenn auch, wenn doch nur, wenn bloß
- Gothic: 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹 (wainei)
- Greek: είθε (el) (eíthe), μακάρι (el) (makári)
- Ancient: ὄφελον (óphelon), εἴθε (eíthe)
- Hebrew: הַלְוַאי (halevái), מִי יִתֵּן (he) (mi yitén)
- Hindi: काश (hi) (kāś)
- Hungarian: bár (hu), bárcsak (hu)
- Italian: magari (it), mi piacerebbe, se solo
- Japanese: (conditional sentence + ii noni (nā)) -ばいいのになあ (-ba ii noni nā), -らいいのになあ (-ra ii noni nā), -ならいいのになあ (-nara ii noni nā), -よいものを (yoi mono o)
- Kurdish:
- Northern Kurdish: xwezî (ku)
- Latin: utinam (la)
- Malay: sekira, semoga, kalaulah
- Marathi: जर का (jar kā)
- Old English: ēalā
- Persian: کاش (fa) (kâš)
- Polish: jeśli by, jeśliby, o ile (pl), byle (pl), bodaj (pl)
- Portuguese: oxalá (pt), tomara (que) (pt), quem me dera (que), quem dera (que) (a sentence in the subjunctive mood follows)
- Russian: хоте́лось бы (xotélosʹ by), е́сли бы то́лько (jésli by tólʹko), е́сли бы (ru) (jésli by), кабы (ru) (kaby), будь (ru) (budʹ)
- Serbo-Croatian:
- Cyrillic: да бар, само да
- Roman: da bar, samo da
- Slovene: če bi le
- Spanish: ojalá (es), si (es), si tan solo, si tan siquiera
- Turkish: keşke (tr)
- Turkmen: käşgä
- Ukrainian: я́кби (uk) (jákby)
- Yiddish: הלוואי (halevay, alevay)
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signifies a regret about an action in the past
even if for no other reason than
signifies a hypothetical or wishful precondition
Translations to be checked
See also
References
- “if only”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
Anagrams