Library / English Dictionary

POSSIBLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adverb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

By chance

Example:

it may peradventure be thought that there never was such a time

Synonyms:

maybe; mayhap; peradventure; perchance; perhaps; possibly

Classified under:

Adverbs

Sense 2

Meaning:

To a degree possible of achievement or by possible means

Example:

they can't possibly get here in time for the funeral?

Classified under:

Adverbs

Antonym:

impossibly (to a degree impossible of achievement)

Pertainym:

possible (capable of happening or existing)

Credits

 Context examples: 

There were two reasons, possibly, for this.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Do you think, Sir, that you could possibly send me on some mission for the paper?

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Whether these were private grounds, however, or bonâ-fide country was more than I could possibly venture to say.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Besides, she added, a message might possibly come from Mr. Rochester when she was undressed; "et alors quel dommage!"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

EXAMPLE(S): unrelated, unlikely, possible, probable, definite (for adverse events in respect to CTEP and FAET)related, possibly related, unlikely related, not related (for adverse events in respect to SDTM & E2B)

(Evaluated Activity Relationship Probability Code, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

Erythroleukemia that is responding to therapy, i.e. It is not progressing and possibly regressing.

(Erythroleukemia in Remission, NCI Thesaurus)

I cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.’

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I am to get his report to-morrow if he can possibly make it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Could it possibly be that he might be that ere the day was done!

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

But with him dead there was time and space in which to prepare to do other things; and besides, whatever new situation arose, it could not possibly be worse than the present one.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)