thinkable

American

[thing-kuh-buhl] / ˈθɪŋ kə bəl /

adjective

capable of being thought; think; thought; conceivable.
that may be considered as possible or likely.

thinkable British

/ ˈθɪŋkəbəl /

adjective

able to be conceived or considered; possible; feasible

"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

Other Word Forms

thinkableness noun
thinkably adverb

Etymology

Origin of thinkable

First recorded in 1850–55; think ¹ + -able

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.

A rate increase, once unthinkable, has become thinkable thanks to stubborn inflation, Iran and a resilient economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

But because of the people, things that seemed unthinkable suddenly were thinkable?

From Slate • Jul. 10, 2025

Distant from the judging eyes of people they know and with every thinkable comfort at their fingertips, each drops their guard, just like the other guests.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2025

This was unthinkable at the start of the season given their pedigree, but it has become very thinkable in recent weeks, especially after the fearful going over they got when losing 4-2 in Paris.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2025

They had made the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible really happen.

From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023