What does possible mean?
Possible is an adjective describing something that can happen, be done, or be true, rather than something that is impossible. It is often used when the speaker wants to acknowledge an outcome without asserting that it will occur: a plan may be possible but expensive, and an explanation may be possible but unproven. The word can also refer to options that can be considered or achieved, as in “explore every possibility.” In everyday English it is flexible and neutral, but its meaning depends on context. Possible may merely mean conceivable, while feasible usually emphasizes practical suitability and probable emphasizes likelihood. Consequently, saying that something is possible does not mean it is likely, desirable, or certain. The word is useful in cautious discussion, planning, negotiation, and science, where it distinguishes what is achievable from what is expected or established. Its Latin ancestry reinforces its central sense: the capacity for something to occur without implying that it actually will.
adjectiveCapable of happening, being done, or being true; also, existing as an option or outcome that can be considered or achieved.
- Able to happen, be done, or be true.
- Existing as an outcome, option, or possibility that can be considered or achieved.
"It is possible to finish the project on time if the remaining work is divided evenly."
"A compromise may be possible if both sides are willing to compromise."
"The researchers considered every possible explanation for the change."
Possible comes from Latin possibilis, literally “able to be done”—a reminder that possibility describes what can be, not what must be.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does possible come from?
Possible entered English in the early 17th century from Old French possible, which came from Latin possibilis, meaning “capable of being done.” The Latin adjective was formed from posse, “to be able,” the source of several English words involving ability or capacity. Related forms include potential, potency, and possession.
Related word forms
How possible is actually used
Possible is neutral in register and widely used. It often indicates that an outcome is conceivable or achievable without implying that it is likely; probable emphasizes likelihood, while feasible emphasizes practical viability.
Easily confused with possible
Possible means that something can happen or be done, whereas feasible additionally emphasizes whether it can be carried out practically.