Idiom idiom
if only
Meaning
you use this to say that you wish something were true, or that you regret something that happened in the past.
Examples
“If only I had more time today.”
“If only I had studied harder for the exam, I would have passed with a better grade.”
“If only the circumstances had been different, they might have pursued their shared ambitions instead of drifting apart over the years.”
Last updated April 22, 2026