possibly
adverbcommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˈpɒs.ə.bli//
- United States//ˈpɑ.sɪ.bli//
- United States//ˈpɑ.sə.bli//
- Canada//ˈpɒs.ə.bli//
- //ˈpɒs.ɪ.bli//
Perhaps; indicates that the proposition may be true (is not certainly false) regardless of any facts or circumstances known to, stated by or implied by the speaker.
adverb
- 1
Perhaps; indicates that the proposition may be true (is not certainly false) regardless of any facts or circumstances known to, stated by or implied by the speaker.
Near-synonyms: maybe, perhaps, mayhap, mayhaps, by chance, perchance, peradventure; conceivably
Possibly, they will make gains in the midterm elections.
It was possibly the costliest mistake in the organization's history.
This rare and possibly unique specimen must be conserved.
- 2
In the realm of possibility; indicates that the action may successfully be performed (is not impossible) regardless of any facts or circumstances known to, stated by or implied by the speaker that might limit the performance.
I'm much stronger than you, so you can't possibly win.
I couldn't possibly be there on time.
I couldn't possibly cheat on my wife.
It seems unlikely, but, yes, they could possibly win even now.
Etymology
Etymology tree English possible Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English possibly From possible + -ly.
Forms
- comparative
- more possibly
- superlative
- most possibly
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