possibility
noun
pos·si·bil·i·ty
ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
plural possibilities
1
: the condition or fact of being possible
There is a strong/real/remote/faint possibility that I'll get the job.
—usually used with ofthe possibility of rain today
It is not outside the range/realm of possibility that we'll win.
2
archaic
: one's utmost power, capacity, or ability
3
: something that is possible
Rain is a possibility today.
The future holds untold possibilities.
We exhausted all the possibilities. [=we did everything we could think of]
4
: potential or prospective value
—usually used in plural
the house had great possibilities
Examples of possibility in a Sentence
There is a strong possibility that I will not be chosen for the job.
Have you considered the possibility that you may be wrong?
My first two ideas didn't work, but I thought of a third possibility.
The future holds untold possibilities.
His degree and job experience give him a wide range of possibilities for a career.
a man of undetermined possibilities
The old house might not look like much now, but it has possibilities.
Recent Examples on the Web
With a championship trophy in hand, he was asked about the possibility of repeating – and winning another title in his senior year.
—
Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
But what October 7th did was create the political possibility that the most extreme version of settlements, which had been on the shelf for many years, could be accelerated and pushed past the finish line.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
The Utah man accused of killing Charlie Kirk was back in court Friday as a state judge denied some efforts by his attorneys to restrict public access to court documents while not ruling out the possibility of closing portions of an upcoming hearing.
—CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy to a national championship at Michigan in 2004, would seem a third possibility as a backup to Justin Herbert.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possibility
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Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
But what October 7th did was create the political possibility that the most extreme version of settlements, which had been on the shelf for many years, could be accelerated and pushed past the finish line.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
The Utah man accused of killing Charlie Kirk was back in court Friday as a state judge denied some efforts by his attorneys to restrict public access to court documents while not ruling out the possibility of closing portions of an upcoming hearing.
—CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers, coached by Jim Harbaugh, who coached McCarthy to a national championship at Michigan in 2004, would seem a third possibility as a backup to Justin Herbert.
—Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for possibility
Cite this Entry
“Possibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possibility. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
possibility
noun
pos·si·bil·i·ty
ˌpäs-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural possibilities
1
: the state or fact of being possible
2
: something possible
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