How to Use if necessary in a Sentence

if necessary

phrase
  • Members are even ready to strike if necessary, the release said — an action that would effectively shut down the nation’s largest public university system.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • The strike authorization vote does not necessarily mean a strike will happen, but gives the union the option to call a strike if necessary, and is often used as a show of force amid negotiations.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • On its website, Project Bluestem says the center will be designed to minimize the effects of noise on the surrounding area and will use vegetation, berms or sound walls if necessary.
    — Alexa Newsom, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • Look for mixes that contain somewhere around 25% perlite, or if necessary, add additional perlite and mix thoroughly into the soil before planting.
    — Derek Carwood, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 June 2026
  • However, the Boise Fire Department is actively monitoring the direction of the fire and has a plan in place to notify those who live in the area if necessary.
    — Emily Carmela Nelson, Idaho Statesman, 7 July 2026
  • And then there's a whole team that focuses on planning, sharing intelligence and coordinating operations among all those stakeholders to be able to be ready, prevent and, if necessary, respond to any threat that emerges.
    — Luke Barr, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • The firm doesn’t shy away from offering realistic assessments, and if necessary, case-specific guidance and strategic preparation on realistic pathways.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Adjust burner, if necessary, to maintain oil temperature between 325 and 350 degrees.
    — ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • The National Weather Service urges those in Guam to begin preparing their homes, listen for possible warnings and be ready to evacuate if necessary.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • Sprinkle 5 tablespoons ice water over mixture and continue using folding motion to combine until small portion of dough holds together when squeezed in palm of your hand, adding up to 2 tablespoons remaining ice water if necessary.
    — ABC News, 29 June 2026
  • Whether through negotiation, sustained economic strangulation, or military action, if necessary, the objective remains non-negotiable that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable.
    — Shaun McCutcheon, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2026
  • The Boise Fire Department is actively monitoring the direction of the blaze, which is burning north of the Military Reserve and southeast of Hulls Gulch Reserve, and has a system in place to notify those who live in the area if necessary.
    — Emily Carmela Nelson, Idaho Statesman, 7 July 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'if necessary.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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