different between possible vs unlikely
possible
English
Etymology
From Middle English possible, from Old French possible, from Latin possibilis (“possible”), from posse (“to be able”); see power. Displaced Old English mihtl?? (“possible”), which was cognate with Dutch mogelijk (“possible”) and German möglich (“possible”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?p?s?bl?/
- (General American) IPA(key): /?p?s?bl?/
- Hyphenation: pos?si?ble
Adjective
possible (comparative possibler or more possible, superlative possiblest or most possible)
- (usually not comparable) Able but not certain to happen; neither inevitable nor impossible.
- Synonyms: futurable; see also Thesaurus:possible
- Antonyms: certain, inevitable, impossible
- (comparable) Capable of being done or achieved; feasible.
- Synonyms: achievable, doable, viable
- Antonym: impossible
- Being considered, e.g. for a position.
- Apparently valid, likely, plausible.
- Synonyms: likely, plausible
- Antonym: implausible
Derived terms
- as much as possible
- ASAP (“as soon as possible”)
- possibly
Related terms
- possibility
- potent
- potential
- probable
- improbable
- incidental
- contingent
Translations
Noun
possible (plural possibles)
- A possible one.
- (colloquial, rare) A possible choice, notably someone being considered for a position.
- Jones is a possible for the new opening in sales.
- (rare) A particular event that may happen.
Synonyms
- possibility
- option
Antonyms
- impossible
- no-go
Translations
Further reading
- possible in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
- possible in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
Anagrams
- bespoils
Catalan
Etymology
From Latin possibilis.
Pronunciation
- (Balearic, Central) IPA(key): /pu?si.bl?/
- (Valencian) IPA(key): /po?si.ble/
Adjective
possible (masculine and feminine plural possibles)
- possible
- Antonym: impossible
Derived terms
- possibilitat
- possiblement
Related terms
- impossible
Further reading
- “possible” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
French
Etymology
From Latin possibilis.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /p?.sibl/
Adjective
possible (plural possibles)
- possible
Related terms
- possibilité
- possiblement
Noun
possible m (plural possibles)
- The possible, feasible, what can be done, achieved etc.
Derived terms
Further reading
- “possible” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
possible From the web:
- what possible disadvantage of interest groups
- what possible plot developments are foreshadowed
- what are the disadvantages of interest groups
- what are the cons of interest groups
- what are the advantages and disadvantages of interest groups
unlikely
English
Etymology
From Middle English unlykely, unlikly, unlykly, unlicli, equivalent to un- +? likely.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?n?la?kli/
Adjective
unlikely (comparative unlikelier or more unlikely, superlative unlikeliest or most unlikely)
- Not likely; improbable; not to be reasonably expected.
- It's very unlikely that you'll be able to walk perfectly after being in a cast for six months.
- 1895, H. G. Wells, The Time Machine Chapter X
- Now, I still think that for this box of matches to have escaped the wear of time for immemorial years was a strange, and for me, a most fortunate thing. Yet oddly enough I found here a far more unlikely substance, and that was camphor.
- Not holding out a prospect of success; likely to fail; unpromising.
- unlikely means
Translations
Adverb
unlikely (comparative more unlikely, superlative most unlikely)
- In an improbable manner.
Translations
Noun
unlikely (plural unlikelies)
- Something or somebody considered unlikely.
- 1980, Robert K. Lindsay, Applications of artificial intelligence for organic chemistry
- The molecular ion candidates are divided by the testing phase into three categories: rejects, unlikelies, and probables. Differences between each candidate and the prominent peaks in the spectrum are computed.
- 1996, Laurie R. King, To Play the Fool
- "Here is my every possible phone number, plus a few unlikelies. And I've also put down the numbers of Karin and Wade, in case you've lost them. Karin can come anytime; Wade, up until six in the morning."
- 2001, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Marci Shimoff, Chicken soup for the mother's soul 2 (page 166)
- Then the most unlikely of unlikelies happened. We got another phone call. Another woman wanted to give us a baby—a boy, born just that morning. We walked into a hospital, and he was placed into my arms.
- 1980, Robert K. Lindsay, Applications of artificial intelligence for organic chemistry
References
- unlikely in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
unlikely From the web:
- what unlikely means
- what does unlikely mean
- unlikely define
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