What does inconceivably mean?
Inconceivably is an adverb meaning “impossibly” or “beyond what can readily be imagined.” It is often used to describe something so extreme in size, difficulty, beauty, speed, or significance that the ordinary imagination seems inadequate to grasp it. In statements such as “inconceivably difficult” or “inconceivably beautiful,” it intensifies the description and conveys awe, surprise, or disbelief. The word can function literally, indicating that the subject is genuinely beyond comprehension, but it is also frequently rhetorical: “unconscionably difficult” and “inconceivably difficult” are close in force, although the latter often suggests that the degree is almost impossible to picture. The adverb derives from the adjective “inconceivable,” whose root idea is an idea that cannot be conceived or imagined.
adverbIn a way that is impossible or extremely difficult to imagine. It can also mean to an extraordinary degree.
- In a way that is impossible or extremely difficult to imagine.
- To an extraordinary or overwhelming degree.
"The view from the summit was inconceivably beautiful."
"The task was inconceivably difficult for the available team."
"She had never imagined that such an inconceivably large number of people would attend."
From “inconceivable” to “inconceivably”: one small suffix turns the limits of imagination into a measure of sheer intensity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inconceivably come from?
The word comes from the adjective “inconceivable,” formed from the Latin prefix in- meaning “not” and “conceivable,” with conceive ultimately deriving from Latin con- and capere, “to take, seize, or grasp.” The sense “impossible to imagine” developed from the idea of something that cannot be grasped mentally. The adverb “inconceivably” was formed in the 19th century and is now commonly used for extreme, often surprising, degrees or qualities.
Related word forms
How inconceivably is actually used
The adverb is especially common in emphatic or literary contexts. It can be used hyperbolically, but avoid using it so frequently that its effect becomes weakened.
Easily confused with inconceivably
Inconceivable is an adjective describing something impossible to imagine, whereas inconceivably is an adverb describing an extreme degree or manner.