possibility noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of possibility noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

possibility

noun
 OPAL WOPAL S
 
/ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti/
 
/ˌpɑːsəˈbɪləti/
(plural possibilities)
Idioms
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  1.  
     [countable, uncountable] a thing that may happen or be true; the fact that something might happen or be true, but is not certain
    • Bankruptcy is a real possibility if sales don't improve.
    • What had seemed impossible now seemed a distinct possibility.
    • Reaching the final seems a remote possibility.
    • possibility that… There's a strong possibility that it will rain.
    • There is now no possibility that she will make a full recovery.
    • We cannot exclude the possibility that another person may have been involved.
    • I have considered the possibility that she is dead.
    • possibility of something He refused to rule out the possibility of a tax increase.
    • There is a real possibility of war.
    • The company has raised the possibility of legal action.
    • possibility of doing something I am excited about the possibility of going to the Olympics.
    • with the possibility of something This is a one-year appointment, with the possibility of renewal for an additional year.
    opposite impossibilityTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintya2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • exciting
    • interesting
    • intriguing
    • …
    verb + possibility
    • allow somebody
    • create
    • offer somebody
    • …
    possibility + verb
    • exist
    • remain
    preposition
    • possibility for
    • possibility of
    phrases
    • not beyond the bounds of possibility
    • within the realm of possibility
    • a number of possibilities
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     [countable] one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation
    • The possibilities are endless.
    • Selling the house is just one possibility that is open to us.
    • We have to investigate every possibility.
    • Police are considering a wide range of possibilities.
    • to exhaust all the possibilities
    • possibility of doing something She explored the possibility of studying in the US.
    Synonyms optionoptionchoice ▪ alternative ▪ possibilityThese are all words for something that you choose to do in a particular situation.option something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do:
    • As I see it, we have two options…
    • Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
    Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program: Choose the ‘Cut’ option from the Edit menu.     choice the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do:
    • If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
    • There is a wide range of choices open to you.
    alternative something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities:
    • You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.
     option, choice or alternative?Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for ‘the freedom to choose’, although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative): If I had the choice/​option, I would… • If I had the alternative, I would… • parental choice in education • parental option/​alternative in education. Things that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several.possibility one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation:
    • We need to explore a wide range of possibilities.
    • The possibilities are endless.
    Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available.    Patterns
    • with/​without the option/​choice/​possibility of something
    • a(n) good/​acceptable/​reasonable/​possible option/​choice/​alternative
    • the only option/​choice/​alternative/​possibility open to somebody
    • to have a/​an/​the option/​choice of doing something
    • to have no option/​choice/​alternative but to do something
    • a number/​range of options/​choices/​alternatives/​possibilities
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • exciting
    • interesting
    • intriguing
    • …
    verb + possibility
    • allow somebody
    • create
    • offer somebody
    • …
    possibility + verb
    • exist
    • remain
    preposition
    • possibility for
    • possibility of
    phrases
    • not beyond the bounds of possibility
    • within the realm of possibility
    • a number of possibilities
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
     [countable, usually plural] something that gives you a chance to achieve something synonym opportunity
    • possibilities for something There are countless possibilities for future research.
    • possibilities for doing something The course offers a range of exciting possibilities for developing your skills.
    • In a bookshop, the possibilities for browsing are endless.
    • possibility for somebody Career possibilities for women are much greater than they were fifty years ago.
  4. possibilities
     [plural] if something has possibilities, it can be improved or made successful synonym potential
    • The house is in a bad state of repair but it has possibilities.
    • He was the first to see the possibilities of the plan.
    5. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French possibilite, from late Latin possibilitas, from possibilis ‘able to be done’, from posse ‘be able’.
Idioms
within/beyond the bounds/realms of possibility
  1. possible/not possible
    • A successful outcome is not beyond the realms of possibility.
    • It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we'll all meet again one day.
See possibility in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee possibility in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: possibility

Nearby words

thunderstorm
noun
 
 
From the Topic
The environment
B2
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