Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
possibly

possibly

∞ 1.0
May happen or be true and sometimes makes a request more polite
  • adverb
  • /ˈpɑːsəbli/
translation icon : posiblemente
  • That takes days, maybe weeks, possibly months to happen.
  • possibly due to
  • possibly as a result
  • possibly less

Well, if you can possibly avoid them, avoid them.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The very best that it could possibly be is equal.

  • Quite possibly, it was a disaster.

    Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)

  • Well, if you can possibly avoid them, avoid them.

    Rob Moore

  • So all the things that could possibly go right did.

  • And now you might say, well, how can we possibly know that?

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • And so this could possibly be the way to go.

  • How can you possibly hope to stop me?

    Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

  • A music program needs support from the community, school system, and possibly foundations.

    Academic text (2011)

  • How can the default culture, with its narrow focus and limited outcome, possibly accomplish this goal?

    Academic text (2011)

  • How can you possibly hope to stop me?

Synonyms

maybe
vspossibly
∞ 1.0

It might happen or be true

can also be used to stress that an event cannot happen
probably
vspossibly
∞ 1.0

Likely to happen or be true but not certain

is more neutral and can also be used to stress impossibility
perhaps
vspossibly
∞ 1.0

To say something might be true

can also add emphasis that something is impossible rather than uncertain
likely
vspossibly
786 1.0

There is a good chance it will happen

is less certain and can also highlight that something cannot occur
potentially
vspossibly
479 3.4

Might happen later but is not yet real

focuses on present possibility or on ruling out occurrence rather than future potential
mayhap
vspossibly
  • Archaic
9.9

People use it to say maybe in old or poetic language

is the neutral modern form rather than a literary or archaic one
mayhaps
vspossibly
  • Archaic
9.9

Said when you are not sure about something, often in old-fashioned language

is the current everyday option rather than a dated expression
perchance
vspossibly
  • Archaic
9.9

Maybe in older or more formal writing

is the general modern marker of possibility rather than a literary form
percase
vspossibly
  • Archaic
9.9

To show that something might happen

is the standard, widely used way to show possibility or impossibility
peradventure
vspossibly
  • Archaic
9.9

Says that something might happen by chance

serves as the common present-day expression rather than an old form

How Certain

certainly
∞ 1.0
probably
∞ 1.0
possibly
∞ 1.0
improbably
6 6.4

Surface Forms

possibly positive

Morphology

possibly = possible (transparent) = possible + ly

A regular adverb formed by adding the productive suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'possible', so the meaning is directly derived (i.e., 'in a possible way' / 'maybe').

Etymology

Possibly comes from possible + the adverb ending -ly, and possible comes from an old Latin word meaning 'to be able'. So possibly is a way to say 'maybe' or 'it might happen', which is why we use it to show that something could be true or could happen.