possibly

adverb

pos·​si·​bly ˈpä-sə-blē How to pronounce possibly (audio)
1
: in a possible manner : by any possibility
that's all she could possibly do
2
: by merest chance : perhaps
possibly he will recover
3
: it is possible or imaginable : conceivably
a political libel which may possibly damage meG. B. Shaw

Examples of possibly in a Sentence

he may possibly recover after such a serious mistake, but it doesn't seem likely
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.
Scherzer ordered Hemphill to remain jailed after prosecutors raised concerns about him possibly fleeing the country, citing his wealth and connections — including a history of philanthropy and family real estate holdings. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025 But Powell, like Wall Street economists, has said that Trump's moves to raise tariffs - including a new 145% tax rate on most Chinese imports - could push inflation higher at least in the short term, and possibly for longer. Jason Lange, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 Hoffman speculates that Aimee might have taken a nod from them, however, possibly resorting to payoffs in order to get free of her legal problems. Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2025 The constellation currently spans over 560 satellites and will eventually offer data downloads, possibly later this year, and voice calls. Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for possibly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Possibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possibly. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

possibly

adverb
pos·​si·​bly ˈpäs-ə-blē How to pronounce possibly (audio)
1
: by possible means : by any possibility
that cannot possibly be true
2
: perhaps
may possibly recover

More from Merriam-Webster on possibly

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