possibilitypos‧si‧bil‧i‧ty /ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti $ ˌpɑː-/ ●●● S2 W2 noun (plural possibilities) 
There’s always a possibility that he might go back to Seattle. the possibility of an enemy attack There was no possibility of changing the voting procedure. A peace settlement now looks like a real possibility. Tomorrow, there’s a remote possibility of snow on high ground. They might get married – it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility. The study raises the possibility that dieting is bad for your health.2[countable usually plural] an opportunity to do something, or something that can be done or triedpossibilities for/of (doing) something exciting possibilities for reducing costs Archer began to explore the possibilities of opening a club in the city. The US has not yet exhausted all diplomatic possibilities (=tried everything possible). the range of possibilities offered to students3have possibilities if something has possibilities, it could be made into something much better SYN have potential: The house has great possibilities.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 1adjectivesa strong/good possibility (=something that is very likely)· There is a strong possibility that the drug causes similar damage in humans.a real possibility (=something that is quite likely)· At this moment, a recession is a real possibility.a distinct possibility (=something that is quite likely)· I knew there was a distinct possibility that I might fail my degree.a remote/faint possibility (=something that is not very likely)· There's no point worrying about such a remote possibility.verbsa possibility exists· The possibility exists that he misunderstood the data.something remains a possibility· War remains a possibility.consider a possibility· Police in Glasgow are considering the possibility that the death may be drug-related.raise a possibility (=say or show that something may happen or may be true)· The government has raised the possibility of an early election next year.rule out/exclude a possibility (=say that something will definitely not happen or is definitely not true)· We can't rule out the possibility that there will be more redundancies.phrasesthere is a possibility that· There is a possibility that files could be lost if the system crashes.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2verbsconsider a possibility (=think about whether you should take an opportunity)· We even began to consider the possibility of moving there permanently.explore a possibility (=think carefully and find out about an opportunity)· You may want to explore the possibility of setting up your own business.offer a possibility (=make an opportunity available)· Technology offers exciting possibilities to designers.open up a possibility (=make a new opportunity available)· His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.exhaust the possibilities (=try everything possible)· I was determined not to give up until I had exhausted all the possibilities.adjectivesnew possibilities· New possibilities lay before him.exciting possibilities· The city offers many exciting possibilities for young people.tremendous possibilities (=very good or important opportunities)· This discovery opens up tremendous possibilities for cancer screening.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A Republican victory in next month's elections now seems to be a real possibility.
- Computers have opened up many exciting possibilities.
- One possibility is to offer him more money.
- The possibilities for improvement are endless.
- There's a distinct possibility that there will be another earthquake.
- There is still a faint possibility that Sarah will be found safe and well.
- Unless there is some change in the economy, there is a possibility that the plant may close.
- We are considering the possibility of providing a new class for advanced students.
- We could not ignore the possibility of an enemy attack.
- We need to investigate all possibilities for helping these children.
- Care must be taken to ensure that the possibility of a sale is not disclosed to the client's staff.
- Howard by his belief in original sin, guilt and the possibility of awakening man's consciousness of sin.
- I just listened, there was absolutely no possibility of influencing her.
- Instrument flight means the possibility of flying in all weather conditions.
- It is interesting to reflect upon the possibility that a meteorite-sized chunk of cometary material might survive its fall to Earth.
- There was no possibility now that she could capsize: built with positive buoyancy, she was incapable of sinking.
- Voice input and output offer possibilities which are only beginning to be explored.
- We know this individual pulled the trigger, but there are several possibilities as to who was actually responsible.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you have the chance to do something
a situation in which it is possible for you to do something enjoyable, useful, or exciting, or something that you want to do: chance to do something: · I never got the chance to thank him for all his help.· It's a beautiful building - you should go and see it if you have a chance.give somebody a/the chance to do something: · I wish he'd just give me the chance to explain.take the chance to do something (=use a chance when you have it): · You should take the chance to travel while you are still young.chance for somebody to do something: · "Back to School Night" will be a chance for parents to meet their child's teacher.somebody's last chance (=when you will not have another chance): · It was her last chance to see him before she left town.
a chance to do something, especially something that is important or useful to you, or something that you want to do very much: · It was too good an opportunity to pass up.opportunity to do something: · All he needs is an opportunity to show his ability.opportunity of doing something: · After they had refused him the opportunity of improving his position, he resigned.opportunity for somebody to do something: · We see this as an exciting opportunity for our companies to work together.have an/the opportunity (to do something): · She was delighted to have an opportunity to talk with someone who shared her interest in classical music.equal opportunities (=the same opportunities as other people): · All over the world women are demanding equal opportunities.
informal a sudden or unexpected chance to do something, especially to be successful in your job: · Gary wants to work in television. He's just waiting for a break.lucky break: · Seeing that advertisement in the paper was a lucky break for me.big break: · Nimoy's big break in television came in the mid-'60s, when he won the role of Spock on "Star Trek".
· I got a grant from my university to study in the USA for a year. It's a golden opportunity!a golden opportunity (for somebody) to do something · The management course is being paid for by the company and it's a golden opportunity to improve your skills.
the chance to do something very exciting or important that you might never be able to do again: · This job is the chance of a lifetime. You'd be a fool not to take it.· If you don't hurry up and make a decision, you could miss the chance of a lifetime.
a chance to do things you want to do, in the way that you want to do them. Scope is more formal than room: · He refused the post because he felt it didn't offer him much scope.room/scope for: · There will always be room for debate and disagreement in this class.· I have two jobs, which doesn't leave much room for socializing.· Despite our recent success, there is still scope for improvement.room/scope to do something: · We've left the course deliberately vague, so there's room to concentrate on your particular areas of interest.· Better paid labour means greater scope to increase the company's profits.
the chance of being successful at something in the future, especially your job: · He had no job, no family, no home, no prospects.· Employers are now offering more jobs with quality training and excellent career prospects.prospects for: · The prospects for an alliance between the two nations do not look good.
the chance to do something: possibility for: · The possibilities for improvement are endless.· We need to investigate all possibilities for helping these children.
to give someone an opportunity to do something, for example the opportunity to do a particular job: · My experience in the Peace Corps really opened doors for me when I started looking for a job.· Alice Coachman's Olympic success opened the door for generations of African-American track athletes.
when something could happen if something is possible , there is a chance that it may happen or it may be true: · Accidents are always possible in heavy industries like mining.· You can't be a Muslim and a Catholic at the same time - it's just not possible.· technological changes and their possible effects on our livesit is possible for somebody to do something: · It is possible for more than one person to win the competition.it is possible that: · It is possible that the children are still alive.
something that can happen or may happen: possibility of: · We could not ignore the possibility of an enemy attack.there is a possibility that: · Unless there is some change in the economy, there is a possibility that the plant may close.a real/distinct/strong possibility (=something that is quite likely to happen): · A Republican victory in next month's elections now seems to be a real possibility.· There's a distinct possibility that there will be another earthquake.a faint/slight possibility: · There is still a faint possibility that Sarah will be found safe and well.
if something can happen, it is possible for it to happen at some time: · Mistakes can occur, even in the most carefully controlled situations.· A lot can happen in two years.· It can be warm in England, even in March.
a potential problem, advantage, effect etc is not a problem, advantage etc now, but it may become one in the future: · For the first time she realized the potential danger of her situation.· It is important for manufacturers to identify potential problems at the design stage.potential customer/buyer/student etc (=someone who may become a customer, buyer etc in the future): · a way of making the college more attractive to potential students
use this to say that it is possible that something will happen: there is a chance/possibility of: · On the northern hills there is always the possibility of a snow shower, even in June.there is a chance/possibility that: · Is there any chance that he will recover from his injury in time for the race?
say this to show that you think there is some possibility that something might happen, even though it seems unlikely: · I'd love to be a doctor, but you have to be very clever for that. Still, you never know.
when something can be done something that is possible , can be done: · Travel to other planets may soon be possible.· Detectives can now check every criminal's records, which wouldn't be possible without computers.· The only possible way a woman could rise in class was to marry into a family of higher social standing than her own.it is possible to do something: · Is it possible to find a room in a good hotel for less than $100?if possible: · I want to get back by 5 o'clock if possible.as soon/quickly/big etc as possible: · Please let me know your answer as soon as possible.· We must get her to the hospital as quickly as possible.humanly possible (=use this to emphasize that you will do something as fast, as well etc as possible): · We will deal with all complaints as soon as is humanly possible.do/try everything possible: · The doctors did everything possible to save her life.
if something can be done , it is possible to do it: · The job can be done by Friday if we all make an effort.· I'm sure that more could be done to help the homeless.· Val got her MA while she was working full-time, so it can be done.
one of the things that you could try to do: · One possibility is to offer him more money.· Computers have opened up many exciting possibilities.the possibility of doing something: · We are considering the possibility of providing a new class for advanced students.
a plan, idea, or method that is feasible is possible and is likely to work: · Barrington suggest transporting the supplies by air. This of course is perfectly feasible.· We agreed on a feasible plan and within a week we implemented it.it is feasible to do something: · It is not feasible to have security cameras in every part of the building.it is feasible that: · Da Silva considered it feasible that uranium could be produced on an industrial scale.
a workable way of doing something is a possible way of doing it - use this when you have had a lot of problems finding a suitable way: · There is a dispute over land but we believe we have found a workable solution to this problem.· A new plan provides for loans to students, but to make the system workable more government funding will be needed.
informal a job that is doable is one that can be done: · You did well to even start the project -- at first we didn't think it was doable at all.
an aim or standard that is attainable is one that can be achieved and it is reasonable to try to achieve it: · Perfect democracy is not attainable, nor is perfect freedom or perfect justice.· Every child should be educated to the highest attainable level.
a viable way of doing something is one that is possible and should work well: · Do you think this is a viable proposition?· Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas.· They are in favour of the program, but they want strong assurances that it is viable.
when it is likely that something will happen or is true when something will probably happen or is probably true: · "Where is she?" "Probably in her room."· We'll probably be shooting the movie on location in Europe.· Archaeologists think the temple was probably built in the 3rd century AD.· He wrote dozens of books, but this is probably his best-known novel.
something that is likely will probably happen or is probably true: · The most likely result is a win for the Democrats.likely to do something: · The price of petrol is likely to rise again this year.very likely: · The jury is very likely to believe he was in the apartment at the time of the crime.something seems likely: · A peace settlement now seems likely.it is likely (that): · It is likely that the girl knew her killer.
formal likely to be true or likely to happen: it is/seems probable (that): · It seems probable that the election will be held in May.highly probable (=when something will almost certainly happen): · Unless the government agrees to further talks, a strike seems highly probable.probable cause: · The report states that the probable cause of death was a heart attack.probable cost/result/outcome etc: · The project will go ahead, at a probable cost of $2.1 million.
to be very likely: · The withdrawal of the allied forces is now a strong possibility.be a strong possibility (that): · There is a strong possibility that both the murders were committed by one man.be a strong possibility of: · The weather forecast says that there's a strong possibility of snow.
spoken say this when the present situation makes you think that something is likely to happen or likely to be true: · There aren't any taxis. It looks as if we'll have to walk.· Ted should be here by now. It looks like he's been delayed.it looks like being British: · From the agenda, it looks like being a long meeting.
if something may well happen or may well be true, it is fairly likely to happen or to be true: · Take an umbrella. It might well rain later on.· That's only my opinion. I could well be wrong.· The eruption of Santorini in 1470 BC may well have been heard as far away as Britain.it may well be (that): · It could well be that it is too late for us to reverse the effects of global warming.something may well be the case: · "Apparently, interest rates could rise again next month." "Yes, that might well be the case."
British /be in the cards American use this to say that something is likely to happen because of the present situation: · They say that another recession is on the cards.· No one was surprised when they got a divorce. It had been on the cards for years.· I was hoping for a promotion, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards right now.
also I guess American spoken say this when you think something is likely to be true or likely to happen: I suppose (that): · There was no reply when I phoned - I suppose she's still at work.· I suppose that they'll do some sightseeing while they're here.· I guess Kathy will want to bring her boyfriend.I suppose so/I guess so (=use this to answer a question): · "Is Bill coming too?" "I suppose so."· "If you don't pass the test, will you take it again?" "I guess so."
British /I would think/guess American spoken say this when you know enough about a situation to think something is likely to be true or likely to happen: · The garden's about 100 metres long, I would guess.I should think (that): · I should think she's about 24 or 25.· I would think that almost everyone could get here on a Saturday. I should/would think so: · "Will the match still go ahead?'' "Yes, I should think so.''
spoken say this when you know enough about a situation to think that something is likely to happen or be true, especially something special or unusual: I wouldn't be surprised if: · You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to get married.I wouldn't be surprised to hear/see/find etc that: · I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she'd left that job by now.
when it is unlikely that there will be a good result if there is little chance/hope etc of something happening, it is unlikely to happen, although you want it to happen: · There's little chance of the hostages being released.· There seemed little prospect of any great decrease in unemployment.· I see little hope of improvement in relations between our two countries.
to be unlikely to succeed in doing something: · Students who cannot read by this point do not stand much chance of getting the help they need.· We weren't opposed to the plan, but we didn't think it had much chance of succeeding.
a very small possibility of being successful: have an outside chance of (doing) something: · She lost the first two games of the tournament, but still has an outside chance of winning the cup.there is an outside chance (that): · There's still an outside chance that the FBI will find the man they are looking for.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 1adjectives The authorities should have been alert to the possibility of invasion. Have you considered the possibility of retraining? General Hausken had not discounted the possibility of an aerial attack. There is a distinct possibility that this will eventually be needed. The credit card eliminates the need for cash or cheques. There is no solution that will totally eliminate the possibility of theft. The possibilities are endless. At this stage we cannot entirely exclude the possibility of staff cuts. Having exhausted all other possibilities, I asked Jan to look after the baby. I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job. Exercise lessens the risk of heart disease. The course offers the opportunity to specialize in the final year. There’s a remote chance that you can catch him before he leaves. She has refused to rule out the possibility of singing again.
(=something that is very likely)· There is a strong possibility that the drug causes similar damage in humans.
(=something that is quite likely)· At this moment, a recession is a real possibility.
(=something that is quite likely)· I knew there was a distinct possibility that I might fail my degree.
(=something that is not very likely)· There's no point worrying about such a remote possibility.
verbs· The possibility exists that he misunderstood the data.
· War remains a possibility.
· Police in Glasgow are considering the possibility that the death may be drug-related.
(=say or show that something may happen or may be true)· The government has raised the possibility of an early election next year.
(=say that something will definitely not happen or is definitely not true)· We can't rule out the possibility that there will be more redundancies.
phrases· There is a possibility that files could be lost if the system crashes.
Meaning 2verbs (=think about whether you should take an opportunity)· We even began to consider the possibility of moving there permanently.
(=think carefully and find out about an opportunity)· You may want to explore the possibility of setting up your own business.
(=make an opportunity available)· Technology offers exciting possibilities to designers.
(=make a new opportunity available)· His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.
(=try everything possible)· I was determined not to give up until I had exhausted all the possibilities.
adjectives· New possibilities lay before him.
· The city offers many exciting possibilities for young people.
(=very good or important opportunities)· This discovery opens up tremendous possibilities for cancer screening.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The authorities should have been alert to the possibility of invasion. (=be possible/not possible) It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they could meet again.
It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they could meet again. Have you considered the possibility of retraining? General Hausken had not discounted the possibility of an aerial attack.· Government officials were seriously discussing the possibility of war.
· The prime minister dismissed the possibility of an early election.
There is a distinct possibility that this will eventually be needed. The credit card eliminates the need for cash or cheques. There is no solution that will totally eliminate the possibility of theft. The possibilities are endless.· The river offered our only hope of escape.
· Penny allowed herself to consider the exciting possibility that Jack might be at the party.
At this stage we cannot entirely exclude the possibility of staff cuts. Having exhausted all other possibilities, I asked Jan to look after the baby. I’m going to explore the possibility of a part-time job.· The risk of failure for a new product is very high.· The possibility of failure was sufficiently high for the auditors to warn investors.
Exercise lessens the risk of heart disease. The course offers the opportunity to specialize in the final year. There’s a remote chance that you can catch him before he leaves. She has refused to rule out the possibility of singing again.· The most unlikely possibility was that she might resign.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Further revaluations remain a distinct possibility, despite a slight weakening of Sterling.· Diversification was still a distinct possibility, but there seemed to be more enthusiasm for concentrating on the propane market.· And Juliet's theory was growing into a distinct possibility.· He said there is a distinct possibility the Coyotes will use the ice at Veterans Memorial Coliseum this season.· To Gould, though, Lear's enterprise had distinct possibilities.· The Riemann sphere still describes the array of physically distinct possibilities, but now only abstractly.· If it goes on for another 2 weeks, that is a distinct possibility.· And there is a distinct possibility that the tax break might go primarily to people already giving.
· In the meantime, new issues were dominating the international agenda, with new possibilities for cooperation between and beyond governments.· But soon they will be interactive, offering intriguing new possibilities.· Accidents still occur, and indeed, are furthered by those investigating new possibilities.· Suddenly new possibilities are springing to life where previously deadlock and despair held sway.· Liquid acrylics can open up a whole new world of possibilities.· It is this shift in perspective that is creating a wealth of new possibilities.· With training and new work possibilities, I believe we will gradually be able to improve their situation.· If you can solve them, an avalanche of new possibilities is set in motion.
· Until this very instant, no other possibility has occurred to her.· The statistic most often used to measure within-group variability is the standard deviation, although there are other possibilities.· If no ECMs existed what other possibilities would be available?· The laser cannon had stopped firing. Other possibilities occurred to her.· But Famlio didn't take long to see other possibilities, in the established traditional of what is ironically known as protection.· Early weaning is only recommended if the baby is suffering quite badly and you have exhausted all other possibilities.· There were other possibilities but for the moment these seemed the most plausible.· However, there are other possibilities.
· And of course none of us were particularly exercised about death as a real possibility.· Now the Raiders face the very real possibility of unraveling.· But the existence of the railways made continued suburban development a real possibility.· With Bobbie, unsound judgments were not a real possibility.· Mutual respect is a real possibility in such activities.· With all this brass flying overhead, conflicting orders were a real possibility.· More recently, the threat of Quebec's secession confronted the country with the very real possibility of political breakup.· Start looking It's much easier to check out real career change possibilities that are available locally first.
· It had been a remote possibility, but it had existed.· But that remote possibility, he knew, had already been examined and dismissed.· On the other hand, there is just the remote possibility that some one will invent it tomorrow.· Where this situation is a remote but real possibility escape or rescue sets should be stored for emergency use.· The pipeline is no longer a remote possibility.
· Great success at the Bar leads to a very considerable income and the strong possibility of a judgeship.· Finally, there is the strong possibility that a contagion effect will operate in this setting.· There is a strong possibility, however, that phantom pregnancies will recur at successive heats.· There had been a strong possibility that the Newleys would have turned the security locks as well.· I just say it is a strong possibility.· There is also the strong possibility that family loyalty will prevail despite the abuse.· It is certainly a possibility for many foreign quasi-governmental agencies, and it is an even stronger possibility for corporates.· There is a strong possibility that trustees-guardians of individual savers' interests-will be required to bear more responsibility.
VERB· Thus all references to sets of conditions are to be understood as allowing for the possibility of one-member sets.· Separation from the Goddess allows the possibility of immortal perfection.· Government jobs and the opportunities which association with the government gives allow them the possibility of accumulating material goods.· In this sense, the ideology allows for the possibility of an implicit, internalized dialectic.· It would be unwise to allow even the possibility of criticism on a matter as important as adjudication.· But having allowed these possibilities, Adorno does not accept the implications of his own gesture.· Both allow for the possibility that speculators might be risk-averse.
· This becomes clear when we consider the various extreme possibilities.· Yet he must consider that possibility, for if it was true, he was in terrible danger.· It is therefore important to consider the possibility of poor estimating when examining a claim.· She does not seem to consider the possibility that they were not intended for burial at all.· Their acquisition takes time, problems arise, children become puzzled, and they have to consider possibilities and alternatives.· Manshin Anjima wrapped her braid slowly around her head and seemed to consider the possibility.· She must have been mad to consider the possibility, especially after the emotional battering she had received from Giles.· Now we would like to consider the possibility that some athletes literally suspend themselves in midair.
· Does the Minister discount that possibility?· Thompson discounted the possibility that Dole would give him the nod.· We can discount the possibility that Fermat was lying: this was a personal note, for him alone to read.· Nor can we discount the possibility that some factor in the diet itself has harmful effects.
· In this section, however, I want to discuss the rather different possibility that some changes are essentially random.· We discussed the possibility of getting together again.· You should only consider it at all if you believe your marriage can continue. Discuss the possibilities in full with your solicitor.· He or she can discuss the possibilities and may have some good reasons for steering your child in a particular direction.· Manager Coyle, understandably, refuses to discuss the possibility of a double triumph.· But I held my temper, and asked if they could perhaps meet to discuss the possibility.· It was now D-Day+33 as we discussed the possibility of an advance by the Brigade from these positions along the ridge.· On Friday, the two presidents discussed the possibility of joint ventures to look for more energy resources within their borders.
· This eliminates the possibility of the wrong person being updated, and enables the operator to see if any details are incorrect.· More important, no changes are made in the system to eliminate the possibility of another pilot making the same error.· The bi-word filter eliminated some possibilities but was not good enough to find a single interpretation.· It eliminates all possibilities of revolts and ensures absolute obedience in everything.· On visits to both bureaux, we felt that their working practices eliminate any reasonable possibility of this happening.· That the practice of spiritual marriages can not with any certainty be traced back into the first century eliminates the third possibility.· Prospective students tend to consider the multi-media scheme after eliminating other possibilities.· Too early death, or severe infirmity, or excessive distance could eliminate any possibility of a significant relationship.
· We can not exclude the possibility, however, of abnormal metabolism of platelet activating factor in four of them.· The second step is designed to exclude this possibility.· For example although duration is commonly measured for tantrums, this does not exclude the possibility of measures of frequency.· A special mention should be made of the use of novel forms of clauses designed to exclude any possibility of judicial review.· Thus, for both of them the theory of forms excluded all possibility of evolution.· However the courts are in general reluctant to exclude the possibility of such legal representation intoto within a particular area.· The guidelines exclude the possibility of assessment of the bargain under the contract as described above.· No description of such entities is so precise as to exclude apriori all possibility of an ambiguous reference.
· Early weaning is only recommended if the baby is suffering quite badly and you have exhausted all other possibilities.· Having exhausted all these possibilities, the ordering and challenging might become explicit.· Have we therefore exhausted all possibilities of being clearer as to what we are talking about?
· To explore this possibility subjects gave risk ratings for the stimuli after completing the main experiment.· We need to articulate the feminine position and explore its possibilities.· There is nothing wrong in seeking an invitation to go and look around a neighbouring school to explore possibilities of working together.· Co. will explore the possibility of finding a purchaser for the station or spinning it off to Disney shareholders.· The Staff Development Group is exploring the possibility of extending the observation and self-evaluation process to review and sustain these developments.· Instead, it explores the possibilities of religion based on the body.· However, opportunities still exist and the contacts listed here should help in exploring various possibilities.· Once Mark knew he was leaving and exploring new possibilities, his back pain went away and his enthusiasm returned.
· It's so full of unhappy memories - and I don't want to face the possibility of bumping into Uncle Joe.· For the first time in their careers, many of them faced the possibility of failure.· He had not faced the possibility that Anna might die.· Now the Raiders face the very real possibility of unraveling.· Perhaps - in fact most certainly - it would be sensible to face the possibility.· Both had faced the possibility of a death sentence.· We did not know what the future might hold and had to face the possibility that we may not see each other again.· And now it faces the possibility of having to play for an extended period without Hill.
· This project investigates the possibilities for economic development which were open to this group.· Now, detectives are investigating the possibility that a fourth woman may have been slain by the retired Army sergeant.· We must now investigate all possibilities for assisting women in need.· Police are now investigating the possibility Spiro even slaughtered his family while high on drugs.· These questions are then taken by each of the site groups and used to investigate new possibilities.· Accidents still occur, and indeed, are furthered by those investigating new possibilities.· This research aims to investigate the possibility of obtaining information for decision-makers that is more sensitive to people's health needs.
· Discussion Impedance planimetry is a novel technique offering possibilities to characterise biomechanical properties invivo of the gut wall.· But a higher-ranking Navy officer overruled the recommendations, sending the officer to an administrative hearing offering no possibility of jail.· Just because the technology offers exciting possibilities, we can not assume that they will be realised.· In general, integrated curricula offer possibilities that are impossible to create otherwise.· In any kind of training a video camera offers the possibility of recording the trainees' performance.· Going Upscale For lunch-goers with an expense account, two classic hotel restaurants offer lavish possibilities.· They saw in it a narrative paradigm which offered the possibility of meaning in their individual experience to all men.· Though it offers more sites and possibilities than any on-line service, it can be confusing, and the quality uneven.
· The Children Act could also open up much wider possibilities, affecting whole groups of travellers.· It does not itself contain a preformed structure, but simply opens up possibilities.· Three major initiatives have brought this about and have opened up possibilities for futher development in the years to come.· This opens many possibilities for users.· That leaves open the possibility, however, that some declarative sentences or statements are not factual and express something other than beliefs.· Reading opens possibilities to become involved in history, biology, geography, and politics.· Extensive use of the computer in project work opens up the further possibility of a computer-oriented career.· The human genome project opens up the possibility of eliminating certain inherited, genetic diseases.
· And beyond these individuals, it raises the possibility of a Republican Party, tolerant and moderate, for the modern age.· This raises the possibility of an employee with a shareholding being allowed to enforce the section 309 duty derivatively.· This raises the possibility that any effect of risk may operate only within individual junctions and not across all junctions.· The issue has recently been raised by the possibility that many criminals show an anomaly in their chromosomes.· All of which raises an intriguing possibility.· These details and a few rough calculations raise an interesting possibility.
· This rules out the possibility that autoantibodies are merely a consequence of hepatitis C virus infection.· McCormick would not rule out the possibility of making a bid for the business.· Police ruled out the possibility of sabotage.· However, Bantle would not rule out the possibility that the mission could be cut short if the system is not repaired.· It doesn't rule out the possibility of further guides covering other similar, but not identical, Unix implementations.· Expenses will be kept in line, he said, not ruling out the possibility of minor layoffs.· Detectives still haven't ruled out the possibility that she was abducted.· In any event, we have already ruled out such a possibility.
· The strong association between antral tumours and chronic active gastritis suggests the possibility that H pylori infection may have a pathogenic role.· From the outside, maybe it suggested the possibility of drama and romance.· The following might be suggested as possibilities for the purpose of illustration.· The comments were taken as suggesting the possibility that the Fed has room to ease credit further.· Moscovici's formula that the new social psychology should be both anthropological and historical seems to suggest both possibilities.· But it does suggest certain possibilities.· The position of Captain's companion had been offered to at least four people before Henslow suggested Darwin as a possibility.· Reducing the resistance we encounter from objects, it suggests the possibility of unlimited success against them.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be alive to a fact/possibility/danger etc
- This place has a lot of possibilities, but it will need some work.
- I thought about letting it ring, but there was a faint hope that it might be Sally.
- If it can startle the predator in some way, there is a faint chance that the enemy may panic and flee.
- That uncertainty urges us to look beyond the present, with a faint hope to control our future.
- There remained a faint possibility that Newley would try to identify the person who collected the money.
- It was actually within the realms of possibility.
WORD FAMILYnounpossibility ≠ impossibilitythe impossiblepossibleadjectivepossible ≠ impossibleadverbpossibly ≠ impossibly
1[countable, uncountable] if there is a possibility that something is true or that something will happen, it might be true or it might happen: There’s always a possibility that he might go back to Seattle. the possibility of an enemy attack There was no possibility of changing the voting procedure. A peace settlement now looks like a real possibility. Tomorrow, there’s a remote possibility of snow on high ground. They might get married – it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility. The study raises the possibility that dieting is bad for your health.2[countable usually plural] an opportunity to do something, or something that can be done or triedpossibilities for/of (doing) something exciting possibilities for reducing costs Archer began to explore the possibilities of opening a club in the city. The US has not yet exhausted all diplomatic possibilities (=tried everything possible). the range of possibilities offered to students3have possibilities if something has possibilities, it could be made into something much better SYN have potential: The house has great possibilities.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 1adjectivesa strong/good possibility (=something that is very likely)· There is a strong possibility that the drug causes similar damage in humans.a real possibility (=something that is quite likely)· At this moment, a recession is a real possibility.a distinct possibility (=something that is quite likely)· I knew there was a distinct possibility that I might fail my degree.a remote/faint possibility (=something that is not very likely)· There's no point worrying about such a remote possibility.verbsa possibility exists· The possibility exists that he misunderstood the data.something remains a possibility· War remains a possibility.consider a possibility· Police in Glasgow are considering the possibility that the death may be drug-related.raise a possibility (=say or show that something may happen or may be true)· The government has raised the possibility of an early election next year.rule out/exclude a possibility (=say that something will definitely not happen or is definitely not true)· We can't rule out the possibility that there will be more redundancies.phrasesthere is a possibility that· There is a possibility that files could be lost if the system crashes.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2verbsconsider a possibility (=think about whether you should take an opportunity)· We even began to consider the possibility of moving there permanently.explore a possibility (=think carefully and find out about an opportunity)· You may want to explore the possibility of setting up your own business.offer a possibility (=make an opportunity available)· Technology offers exciting possibilities to designers.open up a possibility (=make a new opportunity available)· His recent performance opens up the possibility for him to compete in the Olympic Games.exhaust the possibilities (=try everything possible)· I was determined not to give up until I had exhausted all the possibilities.adjectivesnew possibilities· New possibilities lay before him.exciting possibilities· The city offers many exciting possibilities for young people.tremendous possibilities (=very good or important opportunities)· This discovery opens up tremendous possibilities for cancer screening.