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possibility

possibility

2.0
A chance that something may happen
  • noun
  • /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪləti/
translation icon : posibilidad
  • There is a strong possibility that it will rain tomorrow.
  • consider the possibility
  • explore the possibility
  • raise the possibility

There's a rich set of possibilities here, I think.

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Examples

  • Think of all the possibilities that await you.

  • One thing, slim possibility, but it's the only hope.

  • And then the other possibility is time travel.

  • It's not even a possibility for me.

  • These plants are designed for the possibility of an accident.

  • And I think the possibility of that keeps me going as well.

  • So there is the possibility of her being found innocent.

  • The system is free and includes the possibility of a student taking exams.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I thought I had exhausted every possibility.

  • There is a strong possibility Trump might get reelected.

Synonyms

chance
vspossibility
1.0

Possibility that something will happen, often an opportunity or risk

is the more general concept of something that might occur or exist
probability
vspossibility
473 3.6

The chance that something will happen, often shown as a number or percent

is the non numeric concept that something might happen exist or be chosen
prospect
vspossibility
425 3.3

A chance that something will happen in the future

is the neutral notion of something that might occur without prediction
likelihood
vspossibility
274 3.6

The chance that something will happen

is the broad idea of something that might happen rather than its measured odds
eventuality
vspossibility
16 6.5

A possible future event or outcome

is the general idea that something might exist be chosen or occur
outside chance
vspossibility
  • Informal
6 3.5

A very small possibility that something will happen

is the general idea that something may occur without stating tiny odds
contingence
vspossibility
  • Archaic
9.6

A possible future event that may happen by chance

is the broader idea of anything that might happen or be chosen
likeliness
vspossibility
3.6

The chance that something will happen

is the overall notion of something that could exist or take place

Antonyms

37 5.3

A situation in which something cannot happen

How Likely

certainty
  • Literature
202 3.4
probability
473 3.6
possibility
2.0
impossibility
37 5.3

Surface Forms

possibility singular
possibilities plural

Morphology

possibility = possible (transparent) = possible + ity

Standard noun formation from the adjective 'possible' using '-ity', indicating the state or fact of being possible.

Etymology

The word possibility comes from the old Latin verb posse, which means 'to be able'. Think of the words possible and ability — if something 'can' happen or 'is able' to happen, that is a possibility.