possibly
/ˈpɑ.sɪ.bli/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.77 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adv
Perhaps; indicates that the proposition may be true (is not certainly false) regardless of any facts or circumstances known to, stated by or implied by the speaker.
adv
In the realm of possibility; indicates that the action may successfully be performed (is not impossible) regardless of any facts or circumstances known to, stated by or implied by the speaker that might limit the performance.
Example Sentences
- "Near-synonyms: maybe, perhaps, mayhap, mayhaps, by chance, perchance, peradventure; conceivably"
- "Possibly, they will make gains in the midterm elections."
- "It was possibly the costliest mistake in the organization's history."
- "This rare and possibly unique specimen must be conserved."
- "“Well, everything does point to either a major epeirogenic deformation, or possibly just a simple disruption of isostasy throughout the entire plate network.”"
- "That, however, is something the ZOA has seemed unwilling to do, on the theory that Bannon is a self-declared, and possibly even sincere, supporter of the Jewish state."
Etymology
Etymology tree English possible Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English possibly From possible + -ly.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpɑ.sɪ.bli/
- British English: /ˈpɒs.ə.bli/
Inflected Forms
more possibly (comparative)
most possibly (superlative)