possibility

noun

pos·​si·​bil·​i·​ty ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce possibility (audio)
plural possibilities
Synonyms of possibilitynext
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 of
the 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One possibility would be to open additional Ippolita stores. David Moin, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025 The approach opens new possibilities for monitoring biodiversity in remote or poorly studied regions where historical data are scarce or nonexistent. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Dec. 2025 The Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment epitomized the possibilities of this period. Colin Jones, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025 In 1995, as Blue Diamond weighed the possibilities of building a new plant in the San Joaquin Valley, or reinvesting in its site here, the city council passed a multimillion-dollar tax incentive package to keep the cooperative in town. Sacbee.com, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for possibility

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of possibility was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Possibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possibility. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

possibility

noun
pos·​si·​bil·​i·​ty ˌpäs-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce possibility (audio)
plural possibilities
1
: the state or fact of being possible
2
: something possible

More from Merriam-Webster on possibility

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