possibly

adverb

pos·​si·​bly ˈpä-sə-blē How to pronounce possibly (audio)
Synonyms of possiblynext
1
: in a possible manner : by any possibility
that's all she could possibly do
2
: by merest chance : perhaps
possibly he will recover
3
: it is possible or imaginable : conceivably
… a political libel which may possibly damage me.—G. B. Shaw

Synonyms of possibly

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Examples of possibly in a Sentence

he may possibly recover after such a serious mistake, but it doesn't seem likely
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Anyone in the bout would make a formidable champion, but given Flair’s lengthy history with Ripley, that is the most high-profile unification bout WWE could possibly do down the road. — Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Punk, on the other hand, called out almost everyone on the SmackDown roster who could possibly step up to him as a champion. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The Rams also signed former Chiefs outside cornerback Jaylen Watson, setting up their defense as potentially one of the best in the NFL even before possibly adding Donald. — Nate Atkins, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 As the audience cheered, Rodrigo appeared, or possibly floated, on stage in a sheer baby doll dress and knee high stockings. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for possibly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of possibly was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing possibly

Rhymes for possibly

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Browse Nearby Words

possibleness
possibly
possie
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Cite this Entry

“Possibly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/possibly. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

possibly

adverb
pos·​si·​bly ˈpäs-ə-blē How to pronounce possibly (audio)
1
: by possible means : by any possibility
that cannot possibly be true
2
: perhaps
may possibly recover

More from Merriam-Webster on possibly

Nglish: Translation of possibly for Spanish Speakers

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