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# possibly

adverb (possibly)

«possibly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Perhaps; maybe — used when something could be true or could happen but you are not sure. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#m1)
2. (with can/could) In any way possible: «I'll come as soon as I possibly can». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#m2)
3. (in polite requests) «Could you possibly help me?» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#m3)
4. (with can't) Used to say something is impossible: «I can't possibly eat all that». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#m4)

### In the lessons

In maths and science: «possibly» shows uncertainty — a possible event may or may not happen. In stories: «It was possibly the best day ever» shows strong feeling with a little doubt. In polite talk: «Could you possibly…?» makes a request very polite. Similar: maybe, perhaps, probably (stronger).

### Examples

- It will possibly rain later. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x1)
- Could you possibly open the window? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x2)
- That was possibly the best cake I've ever eaten. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x3)
- I can't possibly finish all this homework tonight! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x4)
- "Will you come?" "Possibly." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x5)
- We'll get there as fast as we possibly can. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x6)
- What more can you possibly want?" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/#x7)

### Note

Adverb from «possible» — drop e, add -ly: possibly (not «possiblely»). «Possibly» is less sure than «probably»: probably = likely, possibly = it could happen.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «possibly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possibly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«possibly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possibly.html) on Mova free.