pos·si·bil·i·ty (p s  -b l -t )n. pl. pos·si·bil·i·ties 1. The fact or state of being possible. 2. Something that is possible. 3. possibilities Potentiality for favorable or interesting results: The idea has great possibilities. |
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
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  possibility - a future prospect or potential; "this room has great possibilities" |
| 2. | possibility - capability of existing or happening or being true; "there is a possibility that his sense of smell has been impaired" 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 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" 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" 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]
"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities" [Aristotle Poetics]
Translations
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
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
the possibilities are endless → hay infinidad de posibilidades
she's a strong possibility for the nomination → tiene muchas posibilidades de ser nominada
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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