what if
Speculation's first words
What if introduces a hypothetical scenario, inviting speculation about possibilities or consequences: What if we left tomorrow instead?
It can express worry (What if something goes wrong?) or imaginative exploration (What if dinosaurs had survived?).
As a noun, a what-if is a hypothetical scenario itself: Let's not get lost in what-ifs.
Postulated event sequence
- counterfactualContrary-to-fact supposition
- thought experimentHypothetical scenario for reasoning
- alternate historyGenre reimagining past outcomes
- possibilityState of being achievable
suppose · imagine · pretend · fantasy · fiction · daydream · alternate reality · parallel universe
Guess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
- wonderingFeeling curiosity about something
pondering · musing · extrapolation · projection · forecast · prediction · inference · presumption
Thinking deeply about something
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
consideration · mulling · brooding · philosophizing · daydreaming · reverie · deep thought · soul-searching
Amazement or curiosity
- inquiryRequest for information
- explorationTraveling through unknown regions
- fascinationIntense absorbed interest
- inquisitivenessEager desire to learn
probing · searching · discovery · questioning · open-ended · possibilities · imagination · eagerness
Recognition after the fact
- missed opportunityChance not taken
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
- looking backRecalling what happened before
second-guessing · rue · lament
Lack of firm belief
- indecisionFailure to decide
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- unknownNot yet discovered
mystery · questioning · tentativeness · perplexity · puzzlement · reservation · skepticism · unpredictability
scenario
Postulated event sequence
- counterfactualContrary-to-fact supposition
- thought experimentHypothetical scenario for reasoning
- alternate historyGenre reimagining past outcomes
possibility · suppose · imagine · pretend · fantasy · fiction · daydream · alternate reality · parallel universe · reimagining
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
wondering · pondering · musing · extrapolation · projection · forecast · prediction · inference · presumption · assumption
pondering
Thinking deeply about something
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
deliberation · consideration · mulling · brooding · philosophizing · daydreaming · reverie · deep thought · soul-searching · navel-gazing
wonder
Amazement or curiosity
- inquiryRequest for information
- explorationTraveling through unknown regions
- fascinationIntense absorbed interest
inquisitiveness · probing · searching · discovery · questioning · open-ended · possibilities · imagination · eagerness · intrigue
hindsight
Recognition after the fact
- missed opportunityChance not taken
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- wistfulnessTender sadness for absence
looking back · second-guessing · rue · lament
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- indecisionFailure to decide
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
unknown · mystery · questioning · tentativeness · perplexity · puzzlement · reservation · skepticism · unpredictability · risk
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
- suggestion phraseshow about, why not, consider this, perhaps, worth considering
- wishful thinkingone day, fingers crossed, with any luck, I wish, I hope
- question wordswhen, where, which, who, whom
- regretshindsight, second thoughts, wrong choice, squandered, let slip
- what-ifshypothetical, thought experiment, speculation, conjecture, supposition
what ifwhat is
Query about identity
certainly · definitely · for certain · as it is · in fact
if, what, whatever, iffy, whatnot, whatsoever, wherewithal, howbeit, whats