if only

conjunction

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

“If only I could win the lottery.”

Similar
that
Opposite
God forbid
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Meanings

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

    It made me feel better, if only for a moment.

    1 more example

    It won't be much fun if only guys turn up to the party.

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

    If only I could win the lottery.

    1 more example

    My gambling ex could come to his senses, if only.

    Synonyms: that

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

    We didn't have that luxury. If only!

    1 more example

    If only I had listened to my parents.

  4. idiomaticEven 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.

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

    If you'd only quit interrupting me, I'll tell you!

    1 more example

    He could be a great student if only he got [or: if he only got] a little non-judgmental encouragement.

Synonyms & antonyms

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

Similar
that
Opposite
God forbid

Translations

Ancient Greek ὄφελον, εἴθε
  • ὄφελον (óphelon)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • εἴθε (eíthe)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Arabic لَيْتَ, تَمَنَّى
  • لَيْتَ (layta)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • تَمَنَّى (tamannā)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Catalan tant de bo, si
  • tant de bosignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • sisignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • si noméssignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • si tan solssignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • encara bosignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Chinese Mandarin 但願 /但愿, ...就好了
  • 但願 /但愿 (dànyuàn)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • ...就好了 (jiù hǎo le)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Czech kéž by, kéž
  • kéž bysignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • kéžsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Danish gid
  • gidsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Dutch was het maar zo dat
  • was het maar zo datsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Finnish jos vain, kunpa
  • jos vainsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • kunpasignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
French si seulement, pour peu que
  • si seulementsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • pour peu quesignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • ne fût-ce queeven if for no other reason than
  • ne serait-ce queeven if for no other reason than
German wenn auch, wenn doch nur
  • wenn auchsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • wenn doch nursignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • wenn bloßsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Greek είθε, μακάρι
  • είθε (eíthe)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • μακάρι (makári)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Hebrew הַלְוַאי, מִי יִתֵּן
  • הַלְוַאי (halevái)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • מִי יִתֵּן (mi yitén)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Hindi काश
  • काश (kāś)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Hungarian bár, bárcsak
  • bársignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • bárcsaksignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Italian magari, mi piacerebbe
  • magarisignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • mi piacerebbesignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • se solosignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Japanese -らいいのになあ, -ならいいのになあ
  • -らいいのになあ (-ra ii noni nā)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • -ならいいのになあ (-nara ii noni nā)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • -よいものを (yoi mono o)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Latin utinam
  • utinamsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Malay sekira, semoga
  • sekirasignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • semogasignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • kalaulahsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Persian کاش
  • کاش (kâš)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Polish jeśli by, jeśliby
  • jeśli bysignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • jeślibysignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • o ilesignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • bylesignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • bodajsignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Portuguese oxalá, tomara (que)
  • oxalásignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • tomara (que)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • quem me dera (que)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • quem dera (que)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • quanto mais não sejaeven if for no other reason than
Russian хоте́лось бы, е́сли бы то́лько
  • хоте́лось бы (xotélosʹ by)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • е́сли бы то́лько (jésli by tólʹko)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • е́сли бы (jésli by)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • кабы (kaby)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • будь (budʹ)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Spanish ojalá, si
  • ojalásignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • sisignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • si tan solosignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • si tan siquierasignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Turkish keşke, keşke
  • keşkesignifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
  • keşkesignifies a regret about an action in the past
Ukrainian я́кби
  • я́кби (jákby)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Yiddish הלוואי
  • הלוואי (halevay, alevay)signifies a wish or desire for the present or the future
Cite this entry
APA

if only. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20only

MLA

“if only.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20only. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “if only,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/if%20only.

Source: if only on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.