I. ˈpäsəbəl adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin possibilis, from posse to be able + -ibilis -ible — more at potent
1.
a. : falling or lying within the powers (as of performance, attainment, or conception) of an agent or activity expressed or implied : being within or up to the limits of one's ability or capacity as determined by nature, authority, circumstances, or other controlling factor
a possible but difficult task
— compare actual
b. : falling within the bounds of what may be done, occur, be conceived, or be attained within the framework of nature, custom, or manners
a cure is still possible
not possible to see the patient
c. : being such to the utmost degree
as coarse as it was possible to be
the largest number possible
2. obsolete : able
3.
a. : that may or may not occur : that may chance : dependent on contingency : neither probable nor impossible
put by for possible emergencies
it is possible that she will come
b. : likely , probable — usually used with an adverb expressing doubt
scarcely possible
barely possible that it will rain
4. : having an indicated potential by nature or circumstances : able or fitted to become, be used, or otherwise serve
every native-born American is a possible president
a possible site for a capitol
5. : capable of being surmounted, traversed, or dealt with ; especially : neither unacceptable nor intolerable
the new neighbors were possible
— often used with an adverb expressing doubt
scraped together a just possible meal
Synonyms:
practicable , feasible : possible is used to dispel doubt that something may or does occur or exist or may come to exist
the regime of religious toleration has become possible only because we have lost the primal intensity of religious conviction — M.R.Cohen
although he still asserts that community of goods would be the ideal institution, he reluctantly abandons it as a basis for a possible state — G.L.Dickinson
practicable refers to what may be readily effected, executed, practiced, used, or put into operation
trial by jury — an institution in which … we have the very abstract and essence of all practicable democratic government — W.H.Mallock
the only practicable tactics to be pursued were those of the routine police procedure — W.H.Wright
feasible may designate what is likely to work out or put into effect successfully or what in a difficult situation seems the expedient least liable to fail
cheap iron and steel made it feasible to equip larger armies and navies than ever before — Lewis Mumford
only the most simple types of utilization are feasible — Samuel Van Valkenburg & Ellsworth Huntington
Synonym: see in addition probable .
II. adverb
archaic : possibly
III. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : possibility , potentiality — usually used in plural
all the infinite number of possibles — Jonathan Edwards
b. : all that can be done : best
had done my possible … to gratify you — Robert Southey
2. possibles plural : necessary things (as supplies, equipment, money)
the hunters departed, each to look after his traps and possibles — Mayne Reid
3. : the highest attainable score for a number of rounds fired in target shooting ; broadly : the highest attainable score in a competition