Etimology
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”).
adjective
possible (comparative more possible, superlative most possible)
(usually not comparable) Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.
(comparable) Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.
Being considered, e.g. for a position.
Apparently valid, likely, plausible.
Examples
Synonyms: futurable; see also Thesaurus:possible
Antonyms: certain, inevitable, impossible
Rain tomorrow is possible, but I wouldn't bet on it.
It's not just possible, it's probable that there will be rain tomorrow.
The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; […] . Now she had come to look upon the matter in its true proportions, and her anticipation of a possible chance of teaching him a lesson was a pleasure to behold.
Synonyms: achievable, doable, viable
Antonym: impossible
It's possible for anyone to learn to play the bagpipes.
And success in minor degree, in the sense in which he uses the term "success," is only somewhat more possible than success in winning the White House chair.
Peace between Israel and the Arab countries is "more possible than any time before," says ex-Arab League U.N. ambassador Clovis Maskoud.
Mostly, the microbiome is beneficial. It helps with digestion and enables people to extract a lot more calories from their food than would otherwise be possible. Research over the past few years, however, has implicated it in diseases from atherosclerosis to asthma to autism.
Jones and Smith are both possible for the opening in sales.
Synonyms: likely, plausible
Antonym: implausible
Related words
related terms
possibility
potent
potential
probable
improbable
incidental
contingent
noun
possible (plural possibles)
(colloquial, rare) A possible choice, notably someone being considered for a position.
(colloquial, rare) That which is possible for somebody.
(rare) A particular event that may happen.
Examples
Synonym: candidate
Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.
[…] “don’t you be in any great hurry after that treasure.”“Why, sir, I do my possible, which that ain’t,” said Silver. “I can only, asking your pardon, save my life and the boy’s by seeking for that treasure; and you may lay to that.”
Related words
synonyms
possibility
option
antonyms
impossible
no-go