Search results
We use as if and as though to talk about an imaginary situation or a situation that may not be true but that is likely or possible. As if is more common than as though: The floods were rising and it was as if it was the end of the world. It looks as if they’ve had a shock. It looks as though you’ve not met before.
as is idiom. as is the case phrase. To top. Contents. AS IF! definition: 1. said to show that you do not believe something is possible: 2. said to show that you do not…. Learn more.
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'as if.'. Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
IF. Clauses that start with as if / as though describe an unreal or improbable situation if they are followed by an unreal tense (the past subjunctive or the past perfect subjunctive). Otherwise, they express that the statement is true.
The phrases “ as if ” and “ as though ” are used to express that something is like something else, but it is not actually the same. They can be used to compare things that are similar, or to describe something that is imaginary or hypothetical.
It is often used to describe a scenario where something appears to be true, but it actually isn’t. The phrase can be used in various contexts, such as literature, conversation, and even in everyday life. Contents. The Meaning of “As If”. Examples of Using “As If”. Origins and Historical Context of the Idiom “as if”.
phrase. You use as if and as though when you are giving a possible explanation for something or saying that something appears to be the case when it is not. Anne shrugged, as if she didn't know. See full dictionary entry for as. Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.
a) in a way that makes it seem that something is true or that something is happening It sounds as though she’s been really ill. Gary was behaving as though nothing had happened. Mrs Crump looked as if she was going to explode.
AS IF/THOUGH definition: 1. used to describe how a situation seems to be: 2. used to describe how a situation seems to be: . Learn more.
as if. 1. 'as if' and 'as though'. You can use as if or as though at the beginning of a clause when you are describing how someone or something looks, or how someone behaves. It's a wonderful item and in such good condition that it looks as though it was bought yesterday.
