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.
Every possible result for any conceivable situation is spelled out for us via a few quick internet searches.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
Substitute Keith Evans replied for a rocked Kerry, but Jack Carney's nailed two-pointed effort put Mayo 1-14 to 1-9 ahead and amid a barely conceivable cacophony of noise from the Croke Park stands.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
It is conceivable that all three men could reach a deal which involved economic concessions by China to the U.S.;
From MarketWatch ● May 31, 2026
The sharp corners of this book have all been taped over, every conceivable hazard accounted for.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026
The pamphlet added, “In the construction of this great wheel, every conceivable danger has been calculated and provided for.”
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
