possibilitynoun
uk/ˌpɒs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/us/ˌpɑː.səˈbɪl.ə.t̬i/B1 [ C or U ] a chance that something may happen or be true:
It's not likely to happen but I wouldn't rule out the possibility.
The forecast said that there's a possibility of snow tonight.
[ + (that) ] There's a distinct possibility (that) I'll be asked to give a speech.
Is there any possibility (that) you could pick me up from the station?
Opposite
B2 [ C ] something that you can choose to do in a particular situation:
We could take on extra staff - that's one possibility.
"Have you decided what to do?" "No, I'm still considering the various possibilities."
More examples
- There's a possibility of my flight being delayed.
- He died in mysterious circumstances, and there is still a possibility that it was murder.
- We're having a meeting next week to talk about the possibility of merging the two companies.
- The whole town is patrolled by police because of the possibility of riots.
- There's still a possibility that Scotland will get through into the World Cup.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Possible and probable
- (the) chances are idiom
- always
- anything's possible idiom
- arguably
- as never before idiom
- avenue
- course
- lean
- lean towards sth
- liable
- likelihood
- likely
- sporting chance
- stand
- strange
- stranger things have happened idiom
- strong
- ten
- ten to one idiom
- vista
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