possible

possible
pos|si|ble1 [ `pasəbl ] adjective ***
1. ) if something is possible it can be done:
The task will not be possible without access to the Internet.
it is possible to do something: It is possible to see as far as the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day.
make something possible: a new technique that made it possible to perform this operation
if (at all) possible: We need to avoid delay if at all possible.
humanly possible (=that can be done): She vowed she'd do everything humanly possible to help.
a ) something that is possible might happen in the future:
A guilty verdict is always possible.
possible (that): It is possible that humans might one day live on other planets.
b ) likely or appropriate in a particular situation or for a particular purpose:
a possible explanation
a possible site for the new school building
─ opposite IMPOSSIBLE
2. ) considered capable of happening, existing, being done, or being true, but not very likely:
possible (that): I suppose it's just possible she didn't know, but I'm sure I told her.
3. ) used with a SUPERLATIVE for emphasizing that something has the most or least of a particular quality:
He arrived at the worst possible time.
Deb scored the highest score possible on the test.
as soon/quickly/much etc. as possible
as soon, as quickly, as much, etc. as you can:
Get as much information as possible.
Hold your breath for as long as possible.
is it/would it be possible? SPOKEN
used for asking politely if you can do something or have something:
Would it be possible to have a look at your newspaper?
when/whenever/where/wherever possible
when or where you have an opportunity to do something:
I relax with a good book whenever possible.
possible
pos|si|ble 2 [ `pasəbl ] noun count
someone or something that is considered an appropriate choice for a particular job or situation:
a vice-presidential possible

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
, / , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • possible — [ pɔsibl ] adj. et n. m. • 1265; lat. imp. possibilis I ♦ Adj. 1 ♦ (Activités, réalités humaines) Qui peut exister, qu on peut faire. ⇒ concevable, envisageable, faisable, réalisable. Nous avons fait tout ce qui est humainement possible pour le… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • possible — Possible. adj. de tout genre. Qui peut estre, ou qui peut se faire. Ce que vous dites est possible. cela est difficile, mais pourtant possible. quelques uns tiennent que la pierre philosophale est possible. les estres possibles. est il possible… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • possible — Possible, Possibilis, Quintil. Autant qu il est possible, Quoad potest. S il t est possible, Siquid poteris. Il n en ira pas ainsi, Il n est pas possible, Non sic futurum est, Non potest. Il n est pas possible de leur aider si facilement, Non tam …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • possible — 1 Possible, practicable, feasible can mean capable of being realized. Possible is used to dispel doubt that something may or does occur or exist or may come to exist {the regime of religious toleration has become possible only because we have… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • possible — [päs′ə bəl] adj. [OFr < L possibilis < posse, to be able: see POTENT] 1. that can be; capable of existing 2. that can be in the future; that may or may not happen 3. a) that can be done, known, acquired, selected, used, etc., depending on… …   English World dictionary

  • Possible — Pos si*ble, a. [F., fr. L. possibilis, fr. posse to be able, to have power; potis able, capable + esse to be. See {Potent}, {Am}, and cf. {Host} a landlord.] Capable of existing or occurring, or of being conceived or thought of; able to happen;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • possible — ► ADJECTIVE 1) capable of existing, happening, or being achieved. 2) that may be so, but that is not certain or probable. ► NOUN 1) a possible candidate for a job or member of a team. 2) (the possible) that which is likely or achievable. ORIGIN …   English terms dictionary

  • possible — I adjective achievable, anticipated, apt, attainable, believable, capable, cogitable, conceivable, credible, feasible, grantable, imaginable, liable, likely, obtainable, performable, plausible, potential, probable, promising, rational, realizable …   Law dictionary

  • possible — c.1300, from L. possibilis that can be done, from posse be able (see POTENT (Cf. potent)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • possible — [adj] likely, attainable accessible, achievable, adventitious, advisable, available, breeze*, can do*, cinch, conceivable, credible, dependent, desirable, doable, dormant, duck soup*, easy as pie*, expedient, feasible, fortuitous, hopeful,… …   New thesaurus

  • possible — (po si bl ) adj. 1°   Qui peut être, qui peut se faire. Il est possible que cela se fasse. Il est possible de faire cela. •   Est il possible que nous travaillions à la structure et à la cadence d une période, comme s il y allait de notre vie ?,… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

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