Possible (adjective) means able to happen, be done, or be true. As a noun, a possible refers to a person or thing that may be chosen or may succeed — for example, a candidate under consideration.
What Does Possible Mean?
Possible comes from Latin possibilis, derived from posse meaning "to be able". It entered English in the 14th century via Old French possible, and the same Latin root gives us potent, power, potential, and the productive suffix -able that appears in hundreds of English adjectives.
In everyday English, possible signals that something is within the range of what can happen — without claiming it is certain or even likely. It is one of the most frequent adjectives in the language, appearing in everything from casual conversation ("Is that possible?") to academic writing ("Three possible explanations are discussed below") to business emails ("Please respond as soon as possible").
Understanding the difference between possible (can happen), probable (likely to happen), and certain (will definitely happen) is essential for expressing degrees of certainty accurately in English. Learners who master this spectrum sound far more natural and precise.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Level & Usage note |
|---|---|
| It is possible to improve your English in just a few months. | A2 — it is + possible + infinitive |
| Is it possible to change my appointment to Thursday? | B1 — polite request structure |
| We will contact you as soon as possible with the results. | B1 — fixed phrase: as soon as possible |
| There are several possible causes for the delay, including bad weather and technical problems. | B2 — possible as pre-modifier in formal writing |
| The inquiry examined every possible scenario to ensure that no risk had been overlooked. | C1 — emphatic every possible + noun in formal register |
Collocations
| Collocation | Example |
|---|---|
| as soon as possible | Please reply as soon as possible. |
| make it possible | Technology has made it possible to work from anywhere. |
| wherever possible | We use recycled materials wherever possible. |
| if at all possible | Could you arrive early, if at all possible? |
| humanly possible | She did everything humanly possible to help. |
| technically possible | It is technically possible but very expensive. |
| possible solution | We discussed several possible solutions to the problem. |
| possible candidate | She is a strong possible candidate for the role. |
| barely possible | It is barely possible to hear the speaker from the back row. |
| entirely possible | It is entirely possible that the flight will be delayed. |
Usage Notes
How to Use Possible Correctly
it is possible + that-clause: Use this structure to introduce a fact that may or may not be true. "It is possible that she has already left." Do not add a modal verb inside the clause — "It is possible that she might have left" is redundant.
it is possible + to-infinitive: Use this structure to say that an action can be done. "It is possible to book tickets online." This is the most common pattern at A2–B1 level.
possible as a pre-modifier: Place possible directly before a noun to mean "that might be the case". "a possible explanation", "possible side effects", "all possible care". This pattern is common in formal and academic writing.
possibly vs possible: Possibly is the adverb form and modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs: "Could you possibly help?", "This is possibly correct." Do not confuse the two: "She is possible coming" is wrong — use "She is possibly coming."
Common Mistakes
Watch Out For
It is possible that she might arrive late.
It is possible that she will arrive late. (avoid double modal — "possible that" + "might" is redundant)
She is possible coming to the party.
She is possibly coming to the party. (use the adverb "possibly" to modify a verb)
Is there any possibility to meet on Friday?
Is it possible to meet on Friday? (the natural structure uses "it is possible to", not "possibility to")
Related Words
Word Family
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| possible (adjective) | Is a meeting tomorrow possible? |
| possibly (adverb) | Could you possibly send that today? |
| possibility (noun) | There is a real possibility of rain. |
| impossible (adjective) | The task seemed impossible at first. |
| impossibly (adverb) | The deadlines were impossibly tight. |
| impossibility (noun) | A total impossibility, in my view. |