only if
Sole circumstance permitting
Only if introduces a necessary condition—something that must be true for something else to be true.
You can go only if you finish your homework means finishing is required, not optional.
The phrase reverses the logic of "if": while "if A then B" makes A sufficient for B, "only if A then B" makes A necessary.
In casual speech, only if can express reluctant agreement: Will you come to the party?
Only if you're going too.
State or stipulation
- prerequisiteRequired prior condition
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- provisoConditional clause in contracts
- requirementMandatory condition to fulfill
precondition · contingent · dependent · subject to · conditional · provided that · assuming · given that
Bound on extent
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- restrictionLimit on action
- exclusivityState of being limited
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
specific case · exception · limiting factor · boundary · threshold · barrier · necessary condition · non-negotiable
Postulated event sequence
- suppositionBelief without proof
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
- possibilityState of being achievable
assumption · hypothesis · thought experiment · counterfactual · theoretical · contingency · projection · eventuality
condition
State or stipulation
- prerequisiteRequired prior condition
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- provisoConditional clause in contracts
requirement · precondition · contingent · dependent · subject to · conditional · provided that · assuming · given that · in the event that
limitation
Bound on extent
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- restrictionLimit on action
- exclusivityState of being limited
reservation · specific case · exception · limiting factor · boundary · threshold · barrier · necessary condition · non-negotiable · dealbreaker
scenario
Postulated event sequence
- suppositionBelief without proof
- conjectureGuess from limited facts
- speculationUnproven theorizing or risky investment
possibility · assumption · hypothesis · thought experiment · counterfactual · theoretical · contingency · projection · eventuality
- conjunctionsand, but, or, for, nor
- subordinatorsthat, because, although, though, while
- logicpremise, premises, conclusion, conclusions, inference
- conditionalsthen, else, conditional, antecedent, counterfactual
- logic termsthen, valid, premises, and, sound
- restrictorsjust, merely, solely, exclusively, purely
only ifif
Conditional clause marker
whenever · if and only if · provided that · as long as · given that
only ifalways
At all times
come what may · without exception · automatically · regardless · unconditionally
only ifif
Conditional clause marker
whenever · even if · whether or not · if and only if · unless