possibility
- n.可能;可能性;机会;潜力;契机;可选择的方法
复数： possibilities
possible adj.办得到的 + -ity …状态,性质
possibilitynoun
可能；可能性
the fact that sth might exist or happen, but is not certain to
There is now no possibility that she will make a full recovery.
她现在已不可能完全康复。
He refused to rule out the possibility of a tax increase.
他拒绝排除增税的可能性。
It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we'll all meet again one day.
我们大家将来有一天再度聚在一起，并非绝不可能。
Bankruptcy is a real possibility if sales don't improve.
如果销售情况得不到改善，真有破产的可能。
What had seemed impossible now seemed a distinct possibility .
过去看似不可能的事，现在显然有可能了。
可选择的方法
one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation
to explore/consider/investigate a wide range of possibilities
探究 / 考虑 / 调查各种可能的情况
to exhaust all the possibilities
用尽一切可能的手段
Selling the house is just one possibility that is open to us.
卖掉房子只是我们可以选择的其中一种做法。
The possibilities are endless .
可想的办法是无穷的。
机会；契机
something that gives you a chance to achieve sth
The course offers a range of exciting possibilities for developing your skills.
这门课程可提供一整套新鲜活泼的技能训练。
潜力；改进的余地
if sth has possibilities , it can be improved or made successful
The house is in a bad state of repair but it has possibilities.
这房子虽亟待修缮，但仍有可资利用的价值。
These are all words for sth that you choose to do in a particular situation.以上各词均指某种情况下的选择。
something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do 指可选择的事物、选择、选择权、选择的自由：
As I see it, we have two options…
据我看，我们有两种选择…
Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.
学生在二年级时可以选择出国学习。
the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do 指选择权、选择的自由、选择、可选择的事物：
If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.
如果让我选择，我明天就停止工作。
There is a wide range of choices open to you.
你有很大的选择余地。
something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities 指可供选择的事物、其中一种选择：
You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.
你的工资可以按周以现金支取，或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。
Choice is slightly less formal than option and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for ‘the freedom to choose’, although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative ). |
Things that you can choose are options , choices or alternatives . However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several. |
one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation 指某种情况下可选择的事物：
We need to explore a wide range of possibilities.
我们需要探究各种可能的情况。
The possibilities are endless.
可想的办法是无穷的。
possibility
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1
N-COUNT 可能性；可能
If you say there is a possibility that something is the case or that something will happen, you mean that it might be the case or it might happen.We were not in the least worried about the possibility that sweets could rot the teeth...
我们以前完全不担心吃糖果有可能会蛀牙。
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2
N-COUNT （一种）可能；可能的事
A possibility is one of several different things that could be done.The government now owns a lot of our land — one possibility would be to compensate us with other property...
政府现在占了我们的大量土地，一种可能是用其他地产来对我们作出补偿。
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3
PHRASE 可能的事；能做到的事
You can say 'It is not beyond the realms of possibility' or 'It is not beyond the bounds of possibility' when you are stating something that you believe is possibly true, but which other people might consider unlikely or impossible.It's not beyond the realms of possibility that the security services do bug important public figures.
安全部门完全有可能窃听重要公众人物的谈话。
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4
注意不要说：I had the possibility to do it，而要用opportunity或chance。opportunity一词比较正式，例如：Later Donald had the opportunity of driving the car（后来，唐纳德有机会开这辆车了），The people of Northern Ireland would have the chance to shape their own future（北爱尔兰人民会有机会决定自己的未来的）。
N
noun
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1
- a possible alternative
- bankruptcy is always a possibility
- Synonym: possible action opening
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2
- a tentative insight into the natural world;a concept that is not yet verified but that if true would explain certain facts or phenomena
- a scientific hypothesis that survives experimental testing becomes a scientific theory
- he proposed a fresh theory of alkalis that later was accepted in chemical practices
- Synonym: hypothesis theory
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3
- a future prospect or potential
- this room has great possibilities
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4
- capability of existing or happening or being true
- there is a possibility that his sense of smell has been impaired
- Synonym: possibleness
数据来源：WordNet
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Bankruptcy is a real possibility if sales don 't improve .
如果销售情况得不到改善，真有破产的可能。
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It now seems a probability rather than just a possibility .
这件事似乎十拿九稳，而不是仅有可能。
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Selling the house is just one possibility that is open to us .
卖掉房子只是我们可以选择的其中一种做法。
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We need to explore a wide range of possibilities .
我们需要探究各种可能的情况。
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There 's a strong possibility that we 'll lose the game .
我们很有可能会输掉比赛。
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There 's no real possibility of them changing their minds .
他们实际上不可能改变主意。
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The possibility of a court case is still hanging over her .
可能被告上法庭的阴影依然笼罩在她的心头。
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The course offers a range of exciting possibilities for developing your skills .
这门课程可提供一整套新鲜活泼的技能训练。
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It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they would meet again one day .
他们有一天会再度相遇，这不是没有可能。
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The house is in a bad state of repair but it has possibilities .
这房子虽亟待修缮，但仍有可资利用的价值。
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It 's a theoretical possibility .
这是理论上存在的可能性。
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A successful outcome is not beyond the realms of possibility .
最后取得成功并非没有可能。
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What had seemed impossible now seemed a distinct possibility .
过去看似不可能的事，现在显然有可能了。
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It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we 'll all meet again one day .
我们大家将来有一天再度聚在一起，并非绝不可能。
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She was careful not to close the door on the possibility of further talks .
她十分注意不让进一步谈判的大门关上。
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We cannot discount the possibility of further strikes .
我们不能低估再次发生罢工的可能性。
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There is another , more sinister , possibility .
还有另一种更糟糕的可能。
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We should not exclude the possibility of negotiation .
我们不应该排除谈判的可能性。
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The possibilities were almost limitless .
可能性几乎是无穷无尽的。
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The possibilities were manifold .
有很多的可能性。
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I think one 's got to consider all the possibilities .
我认为有必要考虑到各种可能性。
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Tax on food has become a very real possibility .
极有可能征收食物税。
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What 's happened is that the new results narrow down the possibilities
现有的情况是，新的结果缩小了可能性的范围。
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It was also felt that the collapse of the system opened up new possibilities
人们也认为这一制度的崩溃带来了各种新的可能性。
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Political defeat seemed a real possibility at the end of 1981
政治失败在1981年底看来确有可能。
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We 'll see . It 's a possibility .
再说吧，可能会的。
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She is now in further education with new career possibilities ahead of her
她现在正在进修，新的职业发展机会就摆在面前。
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But the possibilities that emerged were not used to the full .
但出现的各种可能情况并没有得到充分利用。
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I feel full of confidence and so open to possibilities
我感到信心十足，愿意考虑各种可能。
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Formal talks are still said to be a possibility , not a probability
据称正式会谈仍有可能，但可能性不大。