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.
Increasingly, schools in California excessively coddle students by neglecting to impose penalties for late work, eliminating the possibility for a failing grade, and unlimited opportunities to redo exams and assignments. Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026 Judge Jeffrey Conrad sentenced the 64-year-old man to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 20 to 40 years, in state prison. Michael Guise, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026 Similar to 2025, the Aggies produced multiple quality linemen but have at least one player with a high possibility of going in the first round. Zoe Collins Rath, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026 But during a video call with reporters on Friday morning, president of baseball operations Buster Posey didn’t rule out the possibility of continuing to add. Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2026 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 3 Feb. 2026.

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

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