possibility

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English Vietnamese dictionary

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Advanced English dictionary

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+ noun (plural possibilities)
1 [U, C] ~ (of sth / of doing sth)
~ (that ...) the fact that sth might exist or happen, but is not certain to: There is now no possibility that she will make a full recovery. + He refused to rule out the possibility of a tax increase. + It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we'll all meet again one day. + Bankruptcy is a real possibility if sales don't improve. + What had seemed impossible now seemed a distinct possibility.
Antonym: IMPOSSIBILITY
2 [C, often pl.] one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation
Synonym: OPTION
to explore / consider / investigate a wide range of possibilities + to exhaust all the possibilities + Selling the house is just one possibility that is open to us. + The possibilities are endless.
3 [C, usually pl.] something that gives you a chance to achieve sth
Synonym: OPPORTUNITY
The course offers a range of exciting possibilities for developing your skills. + Career possibilities for women are much greater than they were fifty years ago.
4 (possibilities) [pl.] if sth has possibilities, it can be improved or made successful
Synonym: POTENTIAL
The house is in a bad state of repair but it has possibilities. + He was the first to see the possibilities of the plan.
WHICH WORD?
possibility / occasion / opportunity / chance
Occasion, opportunity and chance all mean a time when it is possible to do something. Possibility and chance are used to suggest that something might happen.
Occasion suggests a time that is right or suitable for an activity: A wedding is an occasion for celebration.
Opportunity and chance suggest it is possible for you to do something because the circumstances are good or lucky at the time: I had the opportunity to spend a year in Paris while I was a student. + I hope you get the chance to relax this weekend.
Possibility. Note that you cannot say a/ the possibility to do sth: I had the possibility to spend a year in Paris while I was a student. Possibility means the fact that something might happen or be true and is used with of or that:
There is a possibility that I might go to Paris to study for a year. Chance can also be used in this way:
I have a good chance of being promoted.

Thesaurus dictionary

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n.

1 chance, odds, prospect, conceivability, feasibility, plausibility, likelihood, admissibility:

There is a possibility of my leaving work early to meet you. What is the possibility that he might be honest? They deny even the possibility of God's existence

2 Often, possibilities. opportunity, potentiality, potential, capacity, promise:

The old house has many large rooms and offers great possibilities.

Collocation dictionary

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ADJ.

exciting, interesting | endless, many

The resort offers endless possibilities for entertainment.

| further, other | different, various | future | distinct, great, real, serious, strong

There's a strong possibility that it will rain today.

| reasonable | faint, remote

There is a faint possibility that he might have got the wrong day.

| practical | theoretical | obvious

VERB + POSSIBILITY

allow sb, offer sb, open up, raise | see | consider, discuss, examine, explore, study

Have you explored the possibilities of setting up your own business?

| accept, acknowledge, admit, concede, countenance, entertain, recognize | ignore, overlook | deny, discount, dismiss, eliminate, exclude, preclude, rule out

We cannot rule out the possibility of mistaken identity.

| face

The club is facing the real possibility of relegation.

| risk

We don't want to risk the possibility of losing all our money.

| allow for, cover

Some reserves were named to cover the possibility of withdrawals.

| avert | lessen, reduce

PREP.

~ for

She was quick to see the possibilities for making money that her new skills gave her.

| ~ of

Careful checks will reduce the possibility of unpleasant surprises.

PHRASES

beyond/within the bounds of possibility

It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that a similar situation could arise again.

| a number/range of possibilities

The course offers a wide range of possibilities for personal development.

Concise English dictionary

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possibilities‚pɑsə'bɪlətɪ /‚pɒ-
noun
+a future prospect or potential
+capability of existing or happening or being true
+a tentative theory about the natural world; a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
+a possible alternative