pos·si·bil·i·ty

(pŏs′ə-bĭl′ĭ-tē)

n. pl. pos·si·bil·i·ties

1. The fact or state of being possible: investigating the possibility of life on other planets.

2. Something that is possible: His promotion now seems a possibility.

3. One that is capable of being chosen or of being made real: She is a strong possibility in the senatorial race. There are several possibilities for dessert.

4. possibilities Potentiality for favorable or interesting results: The idea has great possibilities.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

possibility

(ˌpɒsɪˈbɪlɪtɪ)

n, pl -ties

1. the state or condition of being possible

2. anything that is possible

3. a competitor, candidate, etc, who has a moderately good chance of winning, being chosen, etc

4. (often plural) a future prospect or potential: my new house has great possibilities.

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pos•si•bil•i•ty

(ˌpɒs əˈbɪl ɪ ti)

n., pl. -ties.

1. the state or fact of being possible.

2. something that is possible.

[1325–75; Middle English < Late Latin]

possibility

– opportunity

1. 'possibility'

If there is a possibility of something happening or being true, it might happen or be true.

There was a possibility that they had taken the wrong road.

We must accept the possibility that we might be wrong.

If there is no possibility of something happening or being true, it cannot happen or be true.

There was now no possibility of success.

There is no possibility that he did that accidentally.

If you talk or think about the possibility of doing something, you are considering whether to do it.

He talked about the possibility of getting married.

Be Careful!
Don't say 'He talked about the possibility to get married.'

2. 'opportunity'

When a situation makes it possible for someone to do something, don't say that they have 'the possibility to do' it. Say that they have the opportunity to do it or the opportunity of doing it.

You will have the opportunity to study several different subjects in your first year.

Sadly, I never had the opportunity of meeting him.

Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	possibility - a future prospect or potential; "this room has great possibilities" expectation, outlook, prospect - belief about (or mental picture of) the future
	2.	possibility - capability of existing or happening or being true; "there is a possibility that his sense of smell has been impaired" possibleness being, beingness, existence - the state or fact of existing; "a point of view gradually coming into being"; "laws in existence for centuries" conceivability, conceivableness - the state of being conceivable achievability, attainability, attainableness - the state of being achievable potential, potentiality, potency - the inherent capacity for coming into being chance, opportunity - a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances; "the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance" impossibility, impossibleness - incapability of existing or occurring
	3.	possibility - a tentative insight into the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena; "a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory"; "he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices" hypothesis, theory concept, conception, construct - an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances hypothetical - a hypothetical possibility, circumstance, statement, proposal, situation, etc.; "consider the following, just as a hypothetical" gemmule - the physically discrete element that Darwin proposed as responsible for heredity framework, model, theoretical account - a hypothetical description of a complex entity or process; "the computer program was based on a model of the circulatory and respiratory systems" conjecture, speculation - a hypothesis that has been formed by speculating or conjecturing (usually with little hard evidence); "speculations about the outcome of the election"; "he dismissed it as mere conjecture" supposal, supposition, assumption - a hypothesis that is taken for granted; "any society is built upon certain assumptions" theory - a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena; "theories can incorporate facts and laws and tested hypotheses"; "true in fact and theory" historicism - a theory that social and cultural events are determined by history
	4.	possibility - a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility" possible action, opening alternative, option, choice - one of a number of things from which only one can be chosen; "what option did I have?"; "there no other alternative"; "my only choice is to refuse" possible - something that can be done; "politics is the art of the possible"

possibility

noun

1. feasibility, likelihood, plausibility, potentiality, practicability, workableness a debate about the possibility of political reform

2. likelihood, chance, risk, odds, prospect, liability, hazard, probability There is still a possibility of unrest in the country.

3. option, choice, alternative, solution, bet (informal), course of action, recourse There were several possibilities open to the manufacturers.

4. (often plural) potential, promise, prospects, talent, capabilities, potentiality This situation has great possibilities.

Quotations
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities" [Aristotle Poetics]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

possibility

noun

1. The likeliness of a given event occurring:

chance, likelihood, odds, probability, prospect (used in plural).

2. Something that may occur or be done:

contingency, eventuality.

Translations

إِمْكَانِيَّةإمكانِيَّه

možnost

mulighed

mahdollisuus

mogućnost

möguleiki

possibilità buone possibilit...capacità eventualità possibilit...

可能性

가능성

možnost

möjlighet

ความเป็นไปได้

olasılık

khả năng

可能性

possibility

[ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtɪ] N

1. (= chance, likelihood) → posibilidad f
is there any possibility (that) they could help? → ¿hay alguna posibilidad de que nos ayuden?
there is a strong possibility I'll be late → es muy posible que me retrase, hay muchas posibilidades de que me retrase
beyond/within the bounds of possibility it is within the bounds of possibility → está dentro de lo posible
it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that he'll succeed → cabe dentro de lo posible or no es imposible que lo consiga
there is no possibility of his agreeing to it → no existe ninguna posibilidad de que lo consienta
see also distinct A2

2. (= option) → posibilidad f
the possibilities are endless → hay infinidad de posibilidades
she's a strong possibility for the nomination → tiene muchas posibilidades de ser nominada

3. (usu pl) (= potential) the scheme has real possibilities → es un plan que promete, es un plan de gran potencial
it's a job with great possibilities → es un trabajo con mucho futuro or porvenir

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

possibility

[ˌpɒsɪˈbɪlɪti] n

(= chance) → possibilité f
a possibility of sth → une possibilité de qch
no possibility of sth → aucune possibilité de qch
there is a possibility that .... → il se peut que ...
There's a possibility that what he said is true → Il se peut que ce qu'il a dit soit vrai.
There's a possibility that we might be moving → Il se peut que nous déménagions.
We must accept the possibility that we might be wrong
BUT Il se peut que nous ayons tort, et nous devons accepter cette possibilité.
it's a possibility → c'est possible
to be a real possibility → être tout à fait possible

(= option) one possibility would be to ... → une possibilité serait de ...
Several possibilities are open to us → Plusieurs options s'offrent à nous.
There are all sorts of possibilities → Il y a toutes sortes de possibilités.

He's a possibility for the part → C'est un candidat possible pour le rôle.

it is not beyond the realms of possibility (= not impossible) → ce n'est pas impossible

possibility

n → Möglichkeit f; there’s not much possibility of success/of his or him being successful → die Aussichten auf Erfolg/darauf, dass er Erfolg hat, sind nicht sehr groß; within the realms or bounds of possibility → im Bereich des Möglichen; it’s not beyond the realms or bounds of possibility → es ist durchaus im Bereich des Möglichen; do you by any possibility happen to know …? → wissen Sie zufällig …?; the possibility of doing something → die Möglichkeit or Chance, etw zu tun; it’s a distinct possibility that … → es besteht eindeutig die Möglichkeit, dass …; he is a possibility for the job → er kommt für die Stelle infrage or in Frage or in Betracht; there is some or a possibility that … → es besteht die Möglichkeit, dass …; a job with real possibilities → eine Stelle mit echten Möglichkeiten or Chancen; he/that has possibilities → in ihm/darin stecken Möglichkeiten

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

possibility

[ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtɪ] n → possibilità f inv
it's a distinct possibility → è molto probabile
there is no possibility of his agreeing to it → non c'è la minima possibilità or probabilità che accetti
there is some possibility of success → c'è qualche probabilità di successo or riuscita
he's a possibility for the part → è uno dei candidati per la parte
to foresee all the possibilities → prevedere tutte le eventualità
to have possibilities (person) → avere delle (buone) possibilità
your idea has possibilities → la tua idea ha delle buone possibilità di successo
this job has possibilities → questo lavoro offre molte possibilità

possible

(ˈposəbl) adjective

1. able to happen or be done. It's possible that the train will be delayed; We'll come as soon as possible; I'll do everything possible; She did the only possible thing in the circumstances.

2. satisfactory; acceptable. I've thought of a possible solution to the problem.

ˌpossiˈbility – plural possiˈbilities – noun

something that is possible; the state of being possible; (a) likelihood. There isn't much possibility of that happening; There's a possibility of war; The plan has possibilities (= looks as if it may be a good one).

ˈpossibly adverb

1. perhaps. `Will you have time to do it?' `Possibly.'

2. in a way or manner that is possible. I'll come as fast as I possibly can; I can't possibly eat any more; Could you possibly lend me your pen?

possibility

→ إِمْكَانِيَّة možnost mulighed Möglichkeit δυνατότητα posibilidad mahdollisuus possibilité mogućnost possibilità 可能性 가능성 mogelijkheid mulighet możliwość possibilidade возможность möjlighet ความเป็นไปได้ olasılık khả năng 可能性

possibility

n posibilidad f