possibly

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   Used to say that something may be true or may happen, but you are not sure.

   Grammar: Often sits before the main verb or at the start of the sentence: we will possibly leave early.

   Patterns

   • possibly + verb
   • Possibly, + clause

   We could possibly finish by Friday if nothing goes wrong.

   She is possibly the youngest player on the team.

   "Will you come?" "Possibly, if the weather improves."

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   Used with can or could to stress that something is within what is able to be done, usually in a negative or polite request.

   Grammar: Goes after can or could: I can't possibly accept, or Could you possibly help?

   Patterns

   • can't possibly do something
   • could you possibly do something

   I can't possibly eat any more.

   Could you possibly lend me your pen?

   How could he possibly have known about the surprise?

Common combinations

can't possibly

You can't possibly be serious.

could possibly

It could possibly rain this afternoon.

possibly the best

This is possibly the best meal I have ever had.

if at all possibly

Please come early, if at all possibly.

could you possibly

Could you possibly open the window?

Synonyms and how they differ

perhaps

Perhaps is the most common word for uncertainty and usually sits at the start of a sentence, while possibly often sits next to a verb.

maybe

Maybe is more casual and works well on its own as an answer, whereas possibly sounds slightly more formal.

conceivably

Conceivably suggests something that could be imagined but is rather unlikely, a weaker chance than possibly.

potentially

Potentially points to what could develop in future, rather than to uncertainty about a fact.

Opposites

Word family

possible adjective

able to happen or be done

possibility noun

a thing that may happen

impossible adjective

not able to happen

impossibly adverb

to an extreme degree

Commonly confused: possibly or probably?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “possibly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words