Link Centre Dictionary

possible

pos·sible

UK/ˈpɒs.ə.bəl/ US/ˈpɒs.ə.bɫ̩/ very common
adjective (3) noun (2)

adjective

1.

capable of happening or existing

  • “a breakthrough may be possible next year”
  • “anything is possible”
  • “warned of possible consequences”
Antonyms
Similar
2.

existing in possibility

  • “a potential problem”
  • “possible uses of nuclear power”
Synonyms
Antonyms
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3.

possible to conceive or imagine

  • “that is one possible answer”
Synonyms
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noun

1.

something that can be done

  • “politics is the art of the possible”
2.

Origin

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”).

Phrases

  • anything is possible
  • art of the possible
  • as much as possible
  • as quickly as possible
  • as soon as possible
  • humanly possible
  • if possible
  • possible world

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

See also

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.