possibility
noun
pos·si·bil·i·ty
ˌpä-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 
plural possibilities
1
: the condition or fact of being possible
2
archaic
: one's utmost power, capacity, or ability
3
: something that is possible
4
: potential or prospective value
—usually used in plural
the house had great possibilities
Synonyms
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
Though a fuller release schedule is expected for 2025, talk of budget cuts, greater industry consolidation and corporate mergers has forced exhibitors to prepare for the possibility of a near future with fewer studios making fewer movies.
—
Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Scientific progress prompts ethical concerns But the possibility of an artificial womb is also raising many questions.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Trump is keeping that discontent at the fore, and college leaders are having to reckon with the real possibility of a second Trump term and plot their politics accordingly.
Make sense of what matters in Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) says the speaker's lithium-ion battery can overheat and catch fire, leading to the possibility of fires and burns.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
Reid, who is an amputee, was only prompted to reach out to Nike about the possibility of buying one shoe after noticing that Nike and Decathlon were displaying amputee mannequins in their stores.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
The reforms contain lots of other controversial measures, including sending money outside the bloc to encourage other countries to stop migration into the EU and the possibility of offshoring processing.
—Luke McGee, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
That concern comes amid hand-wringing in Washington and Tokyo over the possibility of a return to power by former President Donald J. Trump, whose unpredictable foreign policy has kept many world leaders on edge.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
What is the weather like today near Louisville? As of Wednesday morning, the area should expect widespread rain throughout the day with the possibility of a drier period, and widespread rain overnight.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Scientific progress prompts ethical concerns But the possibility of an artificial womb is also raising many questions.
—Rob Stein, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Trump is keeping that discontent at the fore, and college leaders are having to reckon with the real possibility of a second Trump term and plot their politics accordingly.
Make sense of what matters in Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) says the speaker's lithium-ion battery can overheat and catch fire, leading to the possibility of fires and burns.
—Sari Hitchins, Parents, 11 Apr. 2024
Reid, who is an amputee, was only prompted to reach out to Nike about the possibility of buying one shoe after noticing that Nike and Decathlon were displaying amputee mannequins in their stores.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
The reforms contain lots of other controversial measures, including sending money outside the bloc to encourage other countries to stop migration into the EU and the possibility of offshoring processing.
—Luke McGee, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
That concern comes amid hand-wringing in Washington and Tokyo over the possibility of a return to power by former President Donald J. Trump, whose unpredictable foreign policy has kept many world leaders on edge.
—Michael D. Shear, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
What is the weather like today near Louisville? As of Wednesday morning, the area should expect widespread rain throughout the day with the possibility of a drier period, and widespread rain overnight.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'possibility.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near possibility
Cite this Entry
“Possibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possibility. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
possibility
noun
pos·si·bil·i·ty
ˌpäs-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē
plural possibilities
1
: the state or fact of being possible
2
: something possible
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