possibly

adverb

pos·​si·​bly ˈpä-sə-blē 

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

• conceivably
• maybe
• mayhap
• perchance
• perhaps

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

TikTok Users and the Five Stages of Grief The reactions across what may possibly serve as the final week of the app's operations in the U.S. have shown every one of the five stages of grief, and on the final day before the shutdown, acceptance is setting in. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025

If the first court convicts him and issues a prison term, Yoon would serve that sentence as the case possibly moves up to the Seoul High Court and Supreme Court. —Kim Tong-Hyung, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025

Dee Sumpter, whose daughter was murdered by Wallace in 1993, says police would have been more aggressive and possibly saved lives had the killings occurred in more affluent parts of the city. —Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025

Kirk has also seen homes that have been off the market for years, possibly used as short-term rentals like Airbnbs, suddenly get listed after the fires started. —Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing possibly

• where can (someone) (possibly) be

Kids Definition

possibly

adverb

pos·​si·​bly ˈpäs-ə-blē 

1

: by possible means : by any possibility

that cannot possibly be true

2

: perhaps

may possibly recover