possibility

noun

ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce possibility (audio)
Definition of possibilitynext
1
as in potential
something that can develop or become actual there's a possibility for violence in the situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in event
something that might happen winning the championship is a real possibility for us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of possibility During a 2016 trip abroad, family members coincidentally met a former Arizona state senator who mentioned the possibility of using a forensic technique called familial DNA. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 Well, Canadians can now thank Trump for evoking the possibility. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026 YouTube executives are already considering this as a possibility, said the people. — Alex Sherman, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 This scattering of light and even electromagnetic radiation by particles that are smaller than the wavelength of the radiation opens up the possibility of signals reaching the receiver, even when the transmitter is not in line-of-sight. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for possibility
Recent Examples of Synonyms for possibility
  1. potential
  2. event
  3. prospect
  4. case
  5. potentiality
  6. contingency
Noun
  • This suggests the potential for more direct state involvement.
    — Mike Sheen, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Plus, the Panthers’ injury situation — no Devin Lloyd (calf), with the potential for no Xavier Legette (knee) or Jalen Coker (ankle) — worries me.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of potential
Noun
  • There’s no end of things to do here—an athletic club, frequent cultural events, and an exquisite spa.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • When the event is death or violence, forecasting is readily perceived as not only monetizing harm but possibly even incentivizing it.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of event
Noun
  • The question of Palestinian statehood cannot be left for the end of a peace process, and the prospect of it must be credible to ensure Palestinians’ engagement with political renewal.
    — Michael Robbins, Foreign Affairs, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Washington has reportedly deployed a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East, raising prospects that an escalation of tensions in the region could be on the cards.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of prospect
Noun
  • The killing occurred a week before a hearing was scheduled in McKinsey and Jang's divorce case.
    — TERRY CHEA, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Pressure for action on all types of kratom is mounting after two students at the University of Mississippi died this month, with kratom products found on the scene in both cases.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • Time, not thriftily spent but flagrantly wasted at cards or the wheel, is brought to a standstill right at the moment of its greatest potentiality—this would have to be the ultimate payoff.
    — Artforum, Artforum, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Work commenced on the record three months after Drewchin welcomed the arrival of her first child, Nova, a period in which she was consumed with the reality and potentialities of being a new parent.
    — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of potentiality
Noun
  • This sense of necessity entirely opposes the narrative contingency in Spider-Noir’s other genre.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Construction is proposed in three stages, while about $100 billion would cover construction and another $20 billion would be held as contingency reserves.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of contingency

Browse Nearby Words

possibilities
possibility
possible
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Possibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/possibility. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on possibility

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about possibility

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All