possible
possible
adjective
OPAL W OPAL S
/ˈpɒsəbl/
1 not usually before noun that can be done or achieved
possible to do something New technology has made it possible to communicate more easily.
it is possible to do something It is possible to get there by bus.
It's just not physically possible to finish all this by the end of the week.
it is possible for somebody to do something Would it be possible for me to leave a message for her?
This wouldn't have been possible without you.
I'd like the money back by next week if possible.
Try to avoid losing your temper if at all possible (= if you can).
Use public transport whenever possible (= when you can).
The doctors did all that was humanly possible to save him.
We spent every possible moment on the beach.
Expansion was made possible by the investment of government money.
This film was better than I thought possible.
OPPOSITE impossible
Express Yourself Forbidding somebody to do something
Express Yourself Asking for permission/​a favour
Collocations
verbs
be
seem
sound
adverb
entirely
perfectly
quite
phrases
as far as possible
as long as possible
as much as possible
2 that might exist or happen but is not certain to
the possible side effects of the drug
a possible future president
Frost is possible, although unlikely, at this time of year.
it is possible (that)… It is quite possible that the river will flood again.
It's just possible that I gave them the wrong directions.
‘You might be wrong, of course!’ ‘It’s possible, but I doubt it.’
With the possible exception of the Beatles, no other band has become so successful so quickly.
‘Do you think he’ll resign?’ ‘Anything’s possible where he’s concerned.’
a possible outcome/effect/consequence
We have to look at every possible scenario.
Language Bank perhaps
TOPICS Doubt, guessing and certainty A1
3 reasonable or acceptable in a particular situation
There are several possible explanations.
Please suggest possible ways in which you would improve the existing program.
a possible solution
One possible cause/reason is…
4 used after adjectives to emphasize that something is the best, worst, etc. of its type
It was the best possible surprise anyone could have given me.
Don't leave your packing until the last possible moment.
Jacobs faces the maximum possible sentence of five years imprisonment.
Idioms
as quickly, much, soon, etc. as possible
the best/worst of all possible worlds
the best of both worlds/all possible worlds
the worst of all (possible) worlds
possible
noun
/ˈpɒsəbl/
​a person or thing that is suitable for a particular job, purpose, etc. and might be chosen
Out of all the people interviewed, there are only five possibles.
Word Origin
late Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin possibilis, from posse ‘be able’.