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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pos·si·ble

Audio Help [pos-uh-buh

l] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

1.	that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc.: a disease with no possible cure.

2.	that may be true or may be the case, as something concerning which one has no knowledge to the contrary: It is possible that he has already gone.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME < L possibilis that may be done, equiv. to poss(e) to be able (see posse) + -ibilis -ible

]

—Synonyms 1. Possible, feasible, practicable refer to that which may come about or take place without prevention by serious obstacles. That which is possible is naturally able or even likely to happen, other circumstances being equal: Discovery of a new source of plutonium may be possible. Feasible refers to the ease with which something can be done and implies a high degree of desirability for doing it: This plan is the most feasible. Practicable applies to that which can be done with the means that are at hand and with conditions as they are: We ascended the slope as far as was practicable.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pos·si·ble Audio Help (pŏs'ə-bəl) Pronunciation Key
adj.

Capable of happening, existing, or being true without contradicting proven facts, laws, or circumstances.
Capable of occurring or being done without offense to character, nature, or custom.
Capable of favorable development; potential: a possible site for the new capital.
Of uncertain likelihood.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin possibilis, from posse, to be able; see poti- in Indo-European roots.]

pos'si·bly adv.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean capable of occurring or being done. Possible indicates that something may happen, exist, be true, or be realizable: "I made out a list of questions and possible answers" (Mary Roberts Rinehart).
Workable is used of something that can be put into effective operation: If the scheme is workable, how will you implement it?
Something that is practicable is capable of being effected, done, or put into practice: "As soon as it was practicable, he would conclude his business" (George Eliot).
Feasible refers to what can be accomplished, brought about, or carried out: Making cars by hand is possible but not economically feasible.
Viable implies having the capacity for continuing effectiveness or success: "How viable are the ancient legends as vehicles for modern literary themes?" (Richard Kain).

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
possible

c.1300, from L. possibilis "that can be done," from posse "be able" (see potent).

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

possible
adjective
1.	capable of happening or existing; "a breakthrough may be possible next year"; "anything is possible"; "warned of possible consequences" [ant: impossible]
2.	existing in possibility; "a potential problem"; "possible uses of nuclear power" [syn: potential] [ant: actual]
noun
1.	something that can be done; "politics is the art of the possible"
2.	an applicant who might be suitable

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
possible1 [ˈposəbl] adjective

able to happen or be done
Example: It's possible that the train will be delayed; We'll come as soon as possible; I'll do everything possible; She did the only possible thing in the circumstances.

Arabic:	مُمكِن
Chinese (Simplified):	可能的
Chinese (Traditional):	可能的
Czech:	možný
Danish:	mulig
Dutch:	mogelijk
Estonian:	võimalik
Finnish:	mahdollinen
French:	possible
German:	möglich
Greek:	δυνατός, εφικτός
Hungarian:	lehetséges
Icelandic:	mögulegur
Indonesian:	mungkin
Italian:	possibile

Japanese:	あり得る
Korean:	있을 수 있는, 가능한
Latvian:	iespējams
Lithuanian:	galimas, įmanomas
Norwegian:	mulig
Polish:	możliwy
Portuguese (Brazil):	possível
Portuguese (Portugal):	possível
Romanian:	posibil
Russian:	возможный
Slovak:	možný
Slovenian:	možen
Spanish:	posible
Swedish:	möjlig, tänkbar
Turkish:	mümkün

possible2 [ˈposəbl] adjective

satisfactory; acceptable
Example: I've thought of a possible solution to the problem.

Arabic:	مَقْبول، مُرْضٍ
Chinese (Simplified):	令人满意的，可以接受的
Chinese (Traditional):	令人滿意的，可以接受的
Czech:	uspokojivý, možný
Danish:	tilfredsstillende; mulig
Dutch:	mogelijk
Estonian:	rahuldav
Finnish:	käypä
French:	possible
German:	möglich
Greek:	ικανοποιητικός, κατάλληλος
Hungarian:	lehetséges
Icelandic:	mögulegur, ásættanlegur
Indonesian:	memuaskan
Italian:	possibile

Japanese:	まあまあの
Korean:	만족할 만한
Latvian:	iespējams; varbūtējs; pieņemams
Lithuanian:	galimas, tinkamas
Norwegian:	mulig, fornuftig
Polish:	możliwy
Portuguese (Brazil):	possível
Portuguese (Portugal):	possível
Romanian:	acceptabil
Russian:	возможный
Slovak:	uspokojivý
Slovenian:	možen
Spanish:	posible
Swedish:	vettig, acceptabel
Turkish:	kabul edilebilir

See also: possibly, possibility

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

possible

Ac"tu*al\ (#; 135), a. [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L. actualis, fr. agere to do, act.]

1. Involving or comprising action; active. [Obs.]

Her walking and other actual performances. --Shak.

Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a special prayer or action, . . . given to God. --Jer. Taylor.

2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real; -- opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, conceivable, theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual case under discussion.

3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual situation of the country.

Actual cautery. See under Cautery.

Actual sin (Theol.), that kind of sin which is done by ourselves in contradistinction to "original sin."

Syn: Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real.

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