conceivably
Americanadverb
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as an outside chance; in a way that is possible, though not likely.
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in a way that is possible to conceive or imagine.
Explanation
Use the adverb conceivably when you're talking about something that is believable or possible. You could say, for example, that you'll conceivably still be on time to work after oversleeping, especially if you skip breakfast. You might tell your sister that you could conceivably go on every single ride at the state fair in an hour, if you move quickly and don't stop to eat fried dough. You could also say that your favorite baseball team might conceivably win the World Series next year. Conceivably comes from its adjective form, conceivable, and both words are rooted in the Latin concipere, which means "take in, hold, or grasp" and also "become pregnant."
Vocabulary lists containing conceivably
The Giver
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The Fault in Our Stars
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Selection Vocabulary 3, Unit 4
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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.
The need for surprise might conceivably have justified his near-silence on such a grave matter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
Everyone hopes to win on their prediction-market bets, but losses in the Super Bowl could conceivably trim the tax bill for an investor who won in the stock market, Creech said.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026
They include PagerDuty, Ambarella, and Qualys, a $4 billion cybersecurity company that competes in a crowded industry and could conceivably fit under the roof of one of the larger providers.
From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026
There are a wide variety of missions it could conceivably support, including reconnaissance to prepare for strikes.
From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025
After dinner she goes to their bedroom, from where she could conceivably hear me as I sneak along the hall, although I take care to be very quiet.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
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.
