pos·si·ble (p s  -bl)adj. 1. Capable of happening, existing, or being true without contradicting proven facts, laws, or circumstances. 2. Capable of occurring or being done without offense to character, nature, or custom. 3. Capable of favorable development; potential: a possible site for the new capital. 4. Of uncertain likelihood. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin possibilis, from posse, to be able; see poti- in Indo-European roots.] pos si·bly adv.Synonyms: possible, workable, practicable, feasible, viable These adjectives mean capable of occurring or being done. Possible indicates that something may happen, exist, be true, or be realizable: "I made out a list of questions and possible answers" (Mary Roberts Rinehart). Workable is used of something that can be put into effective operation: If the scheme is workable, how will you implement it? Something that is practicable is capable of being effected, done, or put into practice: "As soon as it was practicable, he would conclude his business" (George Eliot). Feasible refers to what can be accomplished, brought about, or carried out: Making cars by hand is possible but not economically feasible. Viable implies having the capacity for continuing effectiveness or success: "How viable are the ancient legends as vehicles for modern literary themes?" (Richard Kain). |
possible
Adjective
1. capable of existing, happening, or proving true: the earliest possible moment
2. capable of being done: I am grateful to the library staff for making this work possible
3. having potential: a possible buyer
4. feasible but less than probable: it's possible that's what he meant, but I doubt it
Noun
same as possibility (sense 3) [Latin possibilis]
USAGE: Although it is very common to talk about something being very possible or more possible, these uses are generally thought to be incorrect, since possible describes an absolute state, and therefore something can only be possible or not possible: it is very likely (not very possible) that he will resign; it has now become easier (not more possible) to obtain an entry visa.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  possible - something that can be done; "politics is the art of the possible"possible action, possibility, opening - a possible alternative; "bankruptcy is always a possibility" |
| 2. | possible - an applicant who might be suitable | |
| Adj. | 1. | possible - capable of happening or existing; "a breakthrough may be possible next year"; "anything is possible"; "warned of possible consequences" likely - has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job" practical - concerned with actual use or practice; "he is a very practical person"; "the idea had no practical application"; "a practical knowledge of Japanese"; "woodworking is a practical art" realistic - aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are; "a realistic description"; "a realistic view of the possibilities"; "a realistic appraisal of our chances"; "the actors tried to create a realistic portrayal of the Africans" thinkable - capable of being conceived or imagined or considered impossible - not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with; "an impossible dream"; "an impossible situation" |
| 2. | possible - existing in possibility; "a potential problem"; "possible uses of nuclear power" |
possible
adjective 1. feasible, viable, workable, achievable, within reach, on (informal) practicable, attainable, doable, realizable << OPPOSITE unfeasible
adjective 3. conceivable, likely, credible, plausible, hypothetical, imaginable, believable, thinkable << OPPOSITE inconceivable
adjective 4. aspiring, would-be, promising, hopeful, prospective, wannabe (informal)
USAGE Although it is very common to talk about something's being very possible or more possible, many people object to such uses, claiming that possible describes an absolute state, and therefore something can only be either possible or not possible. If you want to refer to different degrees of probability, a word such as likely or easy may be more appropriate than possible, for example it is very likely that he will resign (not very possible).
Translations
possible [ˈpɔsɪbl] adj → possible; [solution] → envisageable, éventuel(le);
if possible → si possible;
possible [ˈpɔsɪbl] adj → possibile;
it is possible to do it → è possibile farlo;
if possible → se possibile;
adj possible [ˈposəbl]
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. moontlik مُمكِن възможен možný mulig möglich δυνατός, εφικτός posible võimalik ممکن mahdollinen possible אֶפשָׁרִי संभव moguć,eventualan lehetséges mungkin mögulegur possibile あり得る 있을 수 있는, 가능한 galimas, įmanomas iespējams boleh jadi mogelijk mulig możliwy possível posibil возможный možný možen moguć möjlig, tänkbar เป็นไปได้ mümkün 可能的 можливий, імовірний ممکن có thể 可能的
2 satisfactory; acceptable I've thought of a possible solution to the problem. moontlik مَقْبول، مُرْضٍ задоволителен uspokojivý, možný tilfredsstillende; mulig möglich ικανοποιητικός, κατάλληλος posible rahuldav مناسب؛ پذیرفتنی käypä possible אֶפשָׁרִי उपयुक्त vjerovatan lehetséges memuaskan mögulegur, ásættanlegur possibile まあまあの 만족할 만한 galimas, tinkamas iespējams; varbūtējs; pieņemams munasabah mogelijk mulig, fornuftig możliwy possível acceptabil возможный uspokojivý možen moguć vettig, acceptabel ยอมรับได้ kabul edilebilir 令人滿意的，可以接受的 можливий اطمينان بخش hợp lý 令人满意的，可以接受的
n possiˈbility
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). moontlikhede إمكانِيَّه възможност možnost mulighed die Möglichkeit δυνατότητα, πιθανότητα, ενδεχόμενο posibilidad võimal(ikk)us امکان؛ چیز ممکن mahdollisuus possiblité אֶפשָׁרוּת संभवता, शक्यता, संभावना, संभावित mogućnost lehetőség kemungkinan möguleiki possibilità 可能性 가능성 galimybë, galimumas iespējamība; iespēja kemungkinan mogelijkheid mulighet możliwość possibilidade posibilitate возможность; вероятность možnosť možnost mogućnost möjlighet ความเป็นไปได้ olasılık 可能性 можливість; перспективи امکان khả năng 可能性
adv possibly
1 perhaps Will you have time to do it?' `Possibly.' moontlik, dalk رُبَّما може би možná, snad muligvis möglicherweise ίσως, ενδεχομένως tal vez, a lo mejor, es posible; posiblemente võib-olla شاید ehkä peut-être (bien) אוּלַי शायद eventualno,možda talán mungkin mögulega forse たぶん 아마도 galbūt iespējams; varbūt mungkin misschien kanskje, muligens być może, możliwe talvez poate возможно; может быть možno mogoče možda kanske, kanhända บางที belki 也許 можливо شايد có thể 也许
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? moontlik, dalk رُبَّما، من المُمْكِن възможно podle své možnosti overhovedet; på nogen måde; måske möglich, vielleicht (είναι) δυνατόν lo más... que pueda/posible; (not possibly) de ninguna manera; ser posible iganes, kuidagi احتمالاً suinkin, mitenkään en son possible כְּכָל הָאֶפשָׁר संभवत moguće lehetőség szerint, ha csak egy mód van rá mungkin mögulega affatto, in alcun modo; per caso できる限り 어떻게 해서 든지; 될 수 있는 대로 kaip galima, niekaip, kaip nors pēc iespējas; iespējami; varbūt boleh mogelijk mulig możliwie, ewentualnie possivelmente pe cât posibil; cumva по возможности podľa svojej možnosti možno; sploh moguće möjligt, möjligtvis, möjligen, [] någonsin [], [] omöjligen [] ที่เป็นไปได้ elverdiğince, mümkün olduğunca 可能地 по можливості ممکنہ طور پر có thể 可能地
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