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Synonyms

possibly

American  
[pos-uh-blee] / ˈpɒs ə bli /

adverb

  1. perhaps; maybe.

    It may possibly rain today.

  2. in a possible manner.

    She has all the money she can possibly use.

  3. by any possibility.

    Could you possibly check this information for me?
possibly British  
/ ˈpɒsɪblɪ /

    1. perhaps or maybe

    2. ( as sentence modifier )

      possibly he'll come
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. by any chance; at all

    he can't possibly come
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of possibly

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; possible + -ly

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 two-time major winner shot 68 on Saturday despite issues with an injury — possibly his back — affecting his legs.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

A bounce-back in prices and renewed volatility were triggered by reports that said the Strait or Hormuz remains effectively closed and possibly primed for a toll on traffic collected by either Iran or the U.S..

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

This is the best — possibly the only — reason to convert all your traditional IRA to a Roth.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

The mediators, Pakistan, are due to host American and Iranian negotiators for talks in Islamabad, possibly as early as Friday.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

This was the right answer, the only answer that a top-flight Hello Girl could have possibly given.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

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.