possiblypos‧si‧bly /ˈpɒsəbli $ ˈpɑː-/ ●●● S1 W2 adverb 
This last task is possibly the most difficult. It will take three weeks, possibly longer. ‘Will you be here tomorrow?’ ‘Possibly.’ ‘Was it murder?’ ‘Quite possibly (=it is very likely).’2spoken used to emphasize that you are very surprised or shocked by something, or you cannot understand it: How could anyone possibly do such a thing?3could/can you possibly spoken used when making a polite request: Could you possibly close that window?4used to emphasize that someone will do or has done everything they can to help or to achieve something: We shall be contributing as much as we possibly can to the campaign. Doctors did everything they possibly could to save his life.5used to emphasize that you cannot do something, or that something cannot or could not happen or be donecan’t/couldn’t possibly I can’t possibly allow you to go home in this weather. She couldn’t possibly have heard what was said.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- He's going to stay at least three weeks, possibly longer.
- He's playing in the US Open Golf Championships - possibly for the last time.
- How could anyone possibly do that to her?
- I have everything I could possibly need.
- Many analysts believe interest rates will rise, possibly as early as next spring.
- Stone is possibly America's finest film director.
- The cancer was possibly caused by exposure to asbestos.
- The examination hall was vast, with at least 700 or 800 student and quite possibly as many as 1000.
- Trade between the two countries began in the 11th century, possibly even earlier.
- You can't possibly go to all those stores in one day.
- Could it possibly apply to human beings?
- He looked at me as though I were very young and possibly a trifle slow.
- In the following pages a number of the more visible and possibly more successful and productive organizations are identified and described.
- No-one else can possibly picture what you suffer.
- No such claim could possibly be made for the Smolensk, Kursk, or Poltava gubernii.
- The cilia in the respiratory tract hasten the exit from the body of possibly harmful foreign material.
- They may insist on payment by instalments, possibly spread throughout the whole of your notice period.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something cannot be done
something that is impossible cannot be done: · We're supposed to do all this work by tomorrow, but it's impossible.· It's a seemingly impossible task.it is impossible (for somebody/something) to do something: · The twins are so alike that it's impossible to tell them apart.· The street was narrow and it was impossible for the two buses to pass.make it impossible: · Her back injury has made it impossible for her to play tennis anymore.find it impossible (=discover that you cannot do something): · When people leave prison, they often find it impossible to get a job.
impossible or extremely difficult to do: · We can't buy a new computer for every student - it's just not possible.it is not possible (for somebody/something) to do something: · It is not possible, in a book of this size, to cover every aspect of the subject.· She's in a meeting, so I'm afraid it's not possible for you to see her now.
especially spoken say this when you strongly believe that something is impossible: there's no way (that): · There's no way we can get to the airport in less than an hour.there's no way of knowing something: · There's no way of knowing when the volcano will erupt again.
an idea, suggestion, or action that is impractical is not really possible because it would cost far too much money, waste too much time, be much too difficult etc: · Officials stated that building a dam for irrigation purposes was hopelessly impractical.· Telling people to avoid any exposure to the sun is impractical advice.it is impractical to do something: · It would be impractical to attempt to review all the types of multimedia technology in this study.
if an idea or suggestion is out of the question , it is completely impossible or it cannot be allowed: · I'd love to come with you, but with all the work I have to do it's out of the question.· The cost would be over $5000, which is quite out of the question.it's out of the question for somebody (to do something): · I'm afraid it's out of the question for you to go alone.
especially spoken use this in order to emphasize that you think something is impossible: · You know we can't possibly pay as much as that in rent.· That was delicious but I couldn't possibly eat another thing!
if something that you try to do is hopeless , there is no possibility of it being successful: · Police now face the hopeless task of trying to find the bombers.it is hopeless: · "Please let me go to the party'' Ali begged her mother, but she knew it was hopeless.it is hopeless to do something: · It's hopeless to try to persuade him while he's in this mood. Let's talk to him tomorrow.a hopeless cause (=something that cannot possibly succeed): · "I do not believe that working to block the movement of cocaine into the US is a hopeless cause," McCaffrey told the panel.
informal to not have any chance of doing what you want, for example because it is much too difficult, someone else will do it first etc: · Everyone in the town votes Republican. The Democrats don't stand a chance.· There's no point in me applying for the job. I wouldn't have a hope.not stand a chance of doing something: · "The driver of the train didn't stand a chance of stopping in time," a Railtrack spokesman said.not have a hope/have no hope of doing something: · The bank said that it will no longer lend to enterprises that have no hope of making a profit.
something that is impossible to do: · At first they thought that building a bridge across to the island was an impossibility.· The equal division of all roles is a practical impossibility for many parents.· I was suddenly struck by the impossibility of achieving our aims.
material for making clothes, curtains etc use this when you think that something may happen or may be true, but you are not sure. Perhaps is more formal than maybe .: · "Will you be there tomorrow?" "I don't know, maybe."· I wonder why she's late - maybe she missed the train.· The footprints belonged to a large cat, a tiger, perhaps.· I'm not sure why I couldn't sleep. Perhaps it was the coffee.maybe not/perhaps not: · "It's not her fault that she can't get a job." "Well, maybe not, but she should make a little more effort."· Housing prices will continue to rise, though perhaps not as much as was predicted last year.
use this with other verbs, to show that something is possible, or likely, but you are not sure about it. May and might are more formal than could: · Take your umbrella -- it might rain.· Hundreds of workers may lose their jobs if the strike continues.· We could be home before midnight if the traffic isn't too bad.may/might/could have done something: · "Bruce isn't here yet." "He may have decided not to come."· It's a good thing we got her to the hospital right away -- the doctor said she could have died if we'd waited.
use this when you think that something may happen or may be done, but that it is not very likely: · I might have to work on Saturday, so it's possible I won't be able to come to your party.· There's a chance that I'll be in California in October, so I might be able to visit you for a few days.it is just possible (that)/there is just a chance (that) (=when something is possible, but very unlikely): · Tomorrow should be sunny but there's just a chance of showers in the afternoon.· It's just possible we'll finish the job by tonight, but it'll probably be tomorrow.outside chance/possibility: · Martinez will need surgery, but there's an outside chance he'll be playing again before the end of the season.slim chance/possibility: · Sims has some numbness and weakness in her legs, and surgeons say there is a slim possibility of paralysis.
use this when you think that something may be true, but you do not have enough information to be sure: · "Do you think she was murdered, inspector?" "Possibly."· He's playing in the US Open Golf Championships - possibly for the last time.· Stone is possibly America's finest film director.· The cancer was possibly caused by exposure to asbestos.· Trade between the two countries began in the 11th century, possibly even earlier.· Many analysts believe interest rates will rise, possibly as early as next spring.quite possibly (=very possibly): · The examination hall was vast, with at least 700 or 800 students and quite possibly as many as 1000.
if you think something may conceivably happen or be true, it seems unlikely but you can imagine that it is possible: · Reservations are advised but you might conceivably find a hotel the day you arrive.· It is still unlikely, but unemployment could conceivably begin to fall by the end of the year.
spoken say this when you are not sure whether something will happen, because no one knows what will happen in the future: · I don't think I'll ever get married, but you never know.· Why don't you ask for a raise? You never know, they could say yes.
spoken say this when you have no way of knowing whether something is true or not true: · "Will you still be working here next year?" "Who knows? Maybe I will, maybe I won't."· Maybe he wasn't telling the truth. Who knows?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY ‘Was it murder?’ ‘Quite possibly (=it is very likely).’ How could anyone possibly do such a thing? We shall be contributing as much as we possibly can to the campaign. Doctors did everything they possibly could to save his life. I can’t possibly allow you to go home in this weather. She couldn’t possibly have heard what was said.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
‘Was it murder?’ ‘Quite possibly (=it is very likely).’ How could anyone possibly do such a thing? We shall be contributing as much as we possibly can to the campaign. Doctors did everything they possibly could to save his life. I can’t possibly allow you to go home in this weather. She couldn’t possibly have heard what was said.· You should make it as happy as you possibly can.· Get as many intelligent citizens as you possibly can to write urgently upon this subject to their representatives and Senators in Congress.· You can not blame him for trying to cram as much into 90 minutes as he possibly can.· We all want to put the best team on the ice as we possibly can.· As for crime and robberies, that is carrying just as heavy a burden now as it possibly can.· Memphis Archives has made these 24 recorded relics sound as good as primitive recordings possibly can.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- But what else could she possibly hope to see? she wondered miserably.
- But what on earth can he possibly have been trying to prove?
- How can they possibly control such success?
- How could she possibly know, since he had not set eyes on the girl?
- What can I possibly say now?
- What conversation could we possibly have had there, then?
- What could she possibly tell him, that he would want to hear?
WORD FAMILYnounpossibility ≠ impossibilitythe impossiblepossibleadjectivepossible ≠ impossibleadverbpossibly ≠ impossibly
1used when saying that something may be true or likely, although you are not completely certain SYN perhaps, maybe: This last task is possibly the most difficult. It will take three weeks, possibly longer. ‘Will you be here tomorrow?’ ‘Possibly.’ ‘Was it murder?’ ‘Quite possibly (=it is very likely).’2spoken used to emphasize that you are very surprised or shocked by something, or you cannot understand it: How could anyone possibly do such a thing?3could/can you possibly spoken used when making a polite request: Could you possibly close that window?4used to emphasize that someone will do or has done everything they can to help or to achieve something: We shall be contributing as much as we possibly can to the campaign. Doctors did everything they possibly could to save his life.5used to emphasize that you cannot do something, or that something cannot or could not happen or be donecan’t/couldn’t possibly I can’t possibly allow you to go home in this weather. She couldn’t possibly have heard what was said.