possible

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈpɒs.ɪ.bl̩/ UK /ˈpɒs.ə.bəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #587

Meanings

1

adj
Able to happen or exist.

A breakthrough may be possible next year.
2

adj
Able to be done; feasible.

It's possible for anyone to learn to play the bagpipes.
3

adj
Maybe true but not certain.

Rain tomorrow is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.
4

noun
A person being considered for a position or role.

Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · able to be done; feasible. achievable doable viable

3 adj · maybe true but not certain. potential

4 noun · a person being considered... candidate

More futurableoption possibility

Opposites

impossibleno-go

Word family

Forms possibles

Derived forms asapcompossiblecounterpossiblenonpossiblepossibilist possibleness possibly unpossible

Related forms contingent improbable incidental possibility potent potential probable

Etymology

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”).

*h₁es- Proto-Indo-European possible Middle English possibilis Latin

View etymology graph ->

External links

# possible

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɒs.ɪ.bl̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɒs.ə.bəl/
**Frequency rank:** 587

## Meanings
1. Able to happen or exist.
2. Able to be done; feasible.
3. Maybe true but not certain.
4. A person being considered for a position or role.

## Examples
- A breakthrough may be possible next year.
- It's possible for anyone to learn to play the bagpipes.
- Rain tomorrow is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.
- Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.

## Synonyms
- futurable
- option
- possibility

## Antonyms
- impossible
- no-go

## Derived Forms
- asap
- compossible
- counterpossible
- nonpossible
- possibilist
- possibleness
- possibly
- unpossible

## Related Forms
- contingent
- improbable
- incidental
- possibility
- potent
- potential
- probable

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁es-
- Root: possible
- Root: possibilis
- Affix: -ible - able to be

## Etymology
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”).

## AI Etymology
Possible comes 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”). In present-day English it covers able to happen or exist, able to be done; feasible, and maybe true but not certain. The wider family includes derived forms such as asap, compossible, counterpossible, nonpossible, possibilist and related forms such as contingent, improbable, incidental, possibility.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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possible

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