the conditional
noun
grammar
: the mood or form that is used to say that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
The conditional is often marked by the word "if."
Examples of the conditional in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Iran has not said anything about such a joint effort or committed publicly to abandoning uranium enrichment under the conditional ceasefire agreement. —
CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026 With the deal, the conditional first-round selection the Sharks received from the Oilers last March, as part of a trade that sent defenseman Jake Walman to Edmonton, now becomes an unprotected pick. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026 The city is arguing that those two dozen or so times, spanning from October 2024 to July 2025, constitute violations of the conditional 2011 arrangement. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026 City staff are recommending approval of the conditional use permit and site review for the new restaurant, but subject to several conditions. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026 For Isserlis, the conditional nature of the arrangement is painful in and of itself. —John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026 An appeal of the conditional use permit costs $1,000, which is waived if appealed by a council member. —Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026 The vote to grant the conditional approval was 4-1, with Commissioner Dave Eagle opposed. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2026 The details of the conditional settlement were not immediately clear. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026 With the deal, the conditional first-round selection the Sharks received from the Oilers last March, as part of a trade that sent defenseman Jake Walman to Edmonton, now becomes an unprotected pick. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026 The city is arguing that those two dozen or so times, spanning from October 2024 to July 2025, constitute violations of the conditional 2011 arrangement. —Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026 City staff are recommending approval of the conditional use permit and site review for the new restaurant, but subject to several conditions. —Adrienne Davis, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026 For Isserlis, the conditional nature of the arrangement is painful in and of itself. —John Phipps, New Yorker, 17 Jan. 2026 An appeal of the conditional use permit costs $1,000, which is waived if appealed by a council member. —Jim Drummond, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026 The vote to grant the conditional approval was 4-1, with Commissioner Dave Eagle opposed. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Jan. 2026 The details of the conditional settlement were not immediately clear. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The conditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/the%20conditional. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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