if only

idiom

—used to talk about something that one wants to happen or be true

If only she loved me in return!

If only it would stop raining.

Examples of if only in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even in his bold catalog, however, Lisztomania stands out if only for the incredible number of dicks. —

Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 23 Apr. 2024 What worked for Reagan may not for Republicans today, if only because of Mr. Trump’s support for the rioters who assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. —

Jeremy W. Peters, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2024 The most interesting bit here is the relationship between Tamara and Rafaela, if only because Amber Iman is such an intriguing presence. —

Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024 And someone new will sit atop the leaderboard, if only for a moment. —

Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2024 Those who experience discomfort relief from CBD and melatonin are also likely to experience better sleep, if only indirectly. —

Medterra, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024 And what if only one company held the patents for the safety mechanism? —

Ben Blatt, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024 Is this how vain our culture has gotten—we’re unable to admit that someone else might be hotter than us, if only for a moment? —

Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 29 Mar. 2024 Harrison Bader was a great signing in my opinion if only for the immaculate vibes. —

Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'if only.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.