possibly

adverb

pos·​si·​bly ˈpä-sə-blē How to pronounce possibly (audio)
Synonyms of possiblynext
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 me— G. B. Shaw

Synonyms

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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.
Guests zoom down the river on a jet boat from Jerry’s Rogue Jets or take to the river in a gentler fashion, kayaking in calm currents, possibly to visit Sheila the harbor seal who generally spends her time on a rock just east of the lodge. — Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s in the metro, with heat index values above 100 degrees — possibly as high as 105 on Friday. — Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2025 The remaining amount of the bill the county is stuck with over the boat's salvage efforts is expected to be footed by the parks department, possibly its emergency maintenance fund, according to County Board Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman. — Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025 Plans include laying off up to 46 faculty members, four managers, 12 staff, and possibly 55 lecturers. — Tina Chen, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 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

Phrases Containing possibly

Rhymes for possibly

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Browse Nearby Words

possibleness
possibly
possie
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Cite this Entry

“Possibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possibly. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.

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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

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Nglish: Translation of possibly for Spanish Speakers

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