conceivable
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of conceivable
Explanation
If you see yellowish skies on a humid, spring evening in Kansas, it is entirely conceivable that a tornado is in the making. That is to say, it's imaginable or even possible, so make sure you take every conceivable precaution. If you conceive of something, you imagine or think of it. So, it makes sense that the adjective conceivable describes things that can be imagined or thought of. People often use the word conceivable in extreme contexts. If you look everywhere for your homework but still can't find it, you might declare, "I searched in every conceivable location! My homework must have disappeared." In response, your teacher might remark that disappearing homework is inconceivable, or "impossible to imagine."
Vocabulary lists containing conceivable
Ungifted
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Essential English Vocabulary, List 6
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Hard Times
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That’s almost certainly what provoked Carney to fight back, and no conceivable Canadian leader could have done otherwise.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
Most prime ministers enter PMQs with a thick folder of notes covering what they hope is every conceivable question they might face.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
We had one in 2022 without a recession, and that is conceivable again.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026
SEATTLE—The U.S. national team came into this World Cup with every conceivable home advantage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Organic and other conceivable biological molecules would simply fall to pieces.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
