possible
adjectivenountop 1 000 in film dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈpɒs.ə.bəl//
- United Kingdom/[ˈpɒs.ə.bɫ̩]/
- //ˈpɒs.ɪ.bl̩//
- /[ˈpɒs.ɪ.bɫ̩]/
Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.
adjective
- 1
Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.
Rain tomorrow is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.
It's not just possible, it's probable that there will be rain tomorrow.
The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again;[…]. Now she had come to look upon the matter in its true proportions, and her anticipation of a possible chance of teaching him a lesson was a pleasure to behold.
In short, the Leninist-Stalinist version of socialism was a possible interpretation, though certainly not the only possible one, of Marx's doctrine.
- 2
Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.
It's possible for anyone to learn to play the bagpipes.
And success in minor degree, in the sense in which he uses the term "success," is only somewhat more possible than success in winning the White House chair.
Peace between Israel and the Arab countries is "more possible than any time before," says ex-Arab League U.N. ambassador Clovis Maskoud.
Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.
- 3
Being considered, e.g. for a position.
Jones and Smith are both possible for the opening in sales.
- 4
Apparently valid, likely, plausible.
Etymology
From Middle English possible, from Old French possible, from Latin possibilis (“possible”), from posse, possum (“to be able”); see power. Displaced Middle English acumendlic (“possible”), from Old English ācumendlīċ (“possible”). Compare also Old English mihtelīċ (“strong, capable, powerful, possible”), which was cognate with Old High German mahtlīh (“possible”) and Old Norse máttulígr (“mighty, possible”). Compare also Dutch mogelijk (“possible”) and German möglich (“possible”).
noun
- 1
rareA possible choice, notably someone being considered for a position.
Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.
- 2
rareThat which is possible for somebody.
[…] “don’t you be in any great hurry after that treasure.” “Why, sir, I do my possible, which that ain’t,” said Silver. “I can only, asking your pardon, save my life and the boy’s by seeking for that treasure; and you may lay to that.”
- 3
rareA particular event that may happen.
Forms
- plural
- possibles
- comparative
- more possible
- superlative
- most possible
possible · Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.
possibly · Perhaps; indicates that the proposition may be true (is not…possum · A marsupial of several families of the order Diprotodontia,…post · A long dowel or plank protruding from the ground; a…