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as if

conj
/ˌæz‿ˈɪf/US/əz‿ˈɪf/

Etymology

From Middle English as ȝif, alls iff (“as if”), from Old English *ealswā ġif, attested only as swā ġif (“as if”), equivalent to as + if. Compare Dutch alsof (“as if”), Low German as of (“as if”), German als ob (“as if”).

  1. inherited from *ealswā ġif✻
  2. inherited from as ȝif

Definitions

  1. As though

    As though; in a manner suggesting.

    • The old man stumbled, as if he were about to fall.
    • It looks as if it's going to rain.
    • She jumped all of a sudden, as if stung.

  2. In mimicry of.

    • When the teacher’s back was turned, the class clown would hold his stomach as if he were ill.

  3. Indicating something that the speaker deems very unlikely, or is adamant that he or she…

    Indicating something that the speaker deems very unlikely, or is adamant that he or she would not do (see also interjection sense below).

    • How can you even think that? As if I would inform on you to the police!
  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. Indicates that the speaker deems something highly unlikely.

      • "I'm going to clean your whole house." — "As if!"
      • Me, take up yoga and become a vegetarian? As if!
      • “Better wait, hadn't you, Laura,” said Aunt Wess’, “and see. Maybe he'll come up and speak to us.” “Oh, as if!” contradicted Laura.

The neighborhood

Derived

as-if rule, look as if one has been dragged through a hedge backwards, make as if

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for as if. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA