- [not usually before noun]
that can be done or achieved 可能；能做到（或取得） - possible to do something
New technology has made it possible to communicate more easily. 新技术使沟通更便捷了。 - it is possible to do something
It is possible to get there by bus. 可以乘公共汽车到那里。 It's just not physically possible to finish all this by the end of the week. 要在本周末完成这一切，这在客观上是办不到的。 - it is possible for somebody to do something
Would it be possible for me to leave a message for her? 我可以给她留个话儿吗？ This wouldn't have been possible without you. 若没有你，这事恐怕就办不成了。 I'd like the money back by next week if possible. 如果有可能的话，希望在下周之前还我钱。 Try to avoid losing your temper if at all possible (= if you can). 尽可能别发脾气。 Use public transport whenever possible (= when you can). 只要可能，就利用公共交通。 The doctors did all that was humanly possible to save him. 医生尽了一切可能来救他。 We spent every possible moment on the beach. 我们一有时间就到海滩边去。 Expansion was made possible by the investment of government money. 政府资金的投资使扩张成为可能。 This film was better than I thought possible. 这部电影比我想象的要好。
Express Yourself Forbidding somebody to do somethingForbidding somebody to do something 禁止某人做某事 When speaking to somebody, we usually use indirect language to ask them not to do something: 要求某人不要做某事通常使用间接的表达方式： I'm sorry, smoking isn't allowed./You're not allowed to smoke here. 对不起，不准吸烟。／这里不准吸烟。
Would you mind not talking during the music? 演奏音乐时请不要说话好吗？
Could I ask you not to use your phone here, please? 请不要在这里使用手机好吗？
I'm afraid I have to ask you not to take pictures here. 对不起，请你不要在这里拍照。
Express Yourself Asking for permission/a favourAsking for permission/a favour 请求允许或帮助 Would you mind if I opened the window? 你会介意我开窗吗？
Could I possibly borrow your phone? 我借你的电话用一下好吗？
I hate to ask, but could I please borrow your phone? 冒昧打扰了，我能借你的电话用一下吗？
Do you happen to have a pair of gloves I could borrow for the evening? 你有没有适合出席晚会的手套可以借给我？
Would it be all right if I left five minutes early? 我提前五分钟离开可以吗？
Is there any chance that we could stay at your house the night before our flight? 我们有没有可能在航班出发的前一天晚上住在你家？
Would it be OK to leave my bag here? 我把包留在这儿行吗？
Yes, of course. 行，当然可以。
Go ahead. 可以。
That's fine. 没问题。
I'd rather you didn't, if you don't mind. 如果你不介意的话，最好别这么做。
I'd prefer it if you asked somebody else. 也许你问问别人更好。
If there's someone else you can ask, I'd be grateful. 请您再问问其他人。
Extra ExamplesIn those circumstances, I thought it possible to work with him. 在那样的情况下，我认为有可能和他一起工作。 Do everything possible to get it finished on time. 要想方设法按时完成。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- entirely
- perfectly
- quite
- …
- as far as possible
- as long as possible
- as much as possible
- …
- possible to do something
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that might exist or happen but is not certain to 可能存在（或发生）的 the possible side effects of the drug 这种药可能产生的副作用 a possible future president 未来可能当选总统的人 Frost is possible, although unlikely, at this time of year. 每年这个时节都有可能下霜，只是并不常见。 - it is possible (that)…
It is quite possible that the river will flood again. 这条河很有可能会再次泛滥。 It's just possible that I gave them the wrong directions. 我也许给他们指错了方向。 ‘You might be wrong, of course!’ ‘It’s possible, but I doubt it.’ “当然，也许是你弄错了！”“有可能吧，但我觉得不一定。” With the possible exception of the Beatles, no other band has become so successful so quickly. 可能除了披头士乐队这个例外，还没有哪个乐队如此转瞬走红的。 ‘Do you think he’ll resign?’ ‘Anything’s possible where he’s concerned.’ “你认为他会辞职吗，”。他所关心的一切都有可能。 a possible outcome/effect/consequence 可能的结果/效果/后果 We have to look at every possible scenario. 我们必须考虑每一种可能的情况。
Language Bank perhapsperhapsMaking an opinion sound less definite 以不确定的语气表达意见 Most cybercrime involves traditional crimes, such as theft and fraud, being committed in new ways. Phishing is perhaps/possibly/probably the best-known example of this. 大多数网络犯罪都包含盗窃、诈骗等传统犯罪，只是犯罪的方式有了新的变化。网络钓鱼大概是这类犯罪中最著名的例子。
It seems/appears that the more personal data which organizations collect, the more opportunity there is for this data to be lost or stolen. 看来各种机构收集的个人资料越多，这些资料丢失或被盗的可能性就越大。
It seems clear that introducing national ID cards would do little to prevent identity theft. 看来很明显的是，采用全国通用身份证对防止身份盗用起不了什么作用。
It could be argued that the introduction of national ID cards might actually make identity theft easier. 可以说采用全国通用身份证实际上可能使身份盗用更容易。
It is possible that/It may be that the only way to protect ourselves against DNA identity theft is to avoid the creation of national DNA databases. 或许保护自己免遭 DNA 身份盗用的唯一途径就是不要建立全国 DNA 数据库。
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintya1It is just possible that he's still here. 说不定他还在这儿。 It's theoretically possible but highly unlikely ever to happen. 这从理论上说是有可能的，但是基本上不会发生。 It's scarcely possible that he knew nothing about it. 他不大可能对此一无所知。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- entirely
- perfectly
- quite
- …
- as far as possible
- as long as possible
- as much as possible
- …
-
reasonable or acceptable in a particular situation 合理的；可接受的 There are several possible explanations. 有几种合理的解释。 Please suggest possible ways in which you would improve the existing program. 请提出改进现有计划的可能方法。 a possible solution 可能的解决办法 One possible cause/reason is… 一个可能的原因是…
Extra ExamplesShe's perfectly possible as our main speaker. 她完全有可能成为我们的主要发言人。 What are the possible interpretations of this message? 对这条信息有哪些可能的解释？ What possible reason can you have for stopping me going? 你有什么可能的理由阻止我去？
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- sound
- …
- entirely
- perfectly
- quite
- …
- as far as possible
- as long as possible
- as much as possible
- …
used after adjectives to emphasize that something is the best, worst, etc. of its type （用于形容词后表示强调）最…的
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin possibilis, from posse ‘be able’.
Idioms
as quickly, much, soon, etc. as possible
the best/worst of all possible worlds
a situation in which you have all the possible advantages/disadvantages together 各种情况的所有不利因素 In the best of all possible worlds, you should be able to develop your career and enjoy a rewarding family life. 在最好的情况下，你应该能够发展你的事业，享受有意义的家庭生活。
the best of both worlds/all possible worlds
the benefits of two or more completely different situations that you can enjoy at the same time 两种（或多种）不同情况的优点；两全其美 If you enjoy the coast and the country, you'll get the best of both worlds on this walk. 你要是喜欢海滨和乡村，那么这次散步你会一举两得。 Maybe in the best of all possible worlds things would be different. 也许在最好的世界里，事情会有所不同。
the worst of all (possible) worlds
a situation in which you have all the possible disadvantages at the same time 各种情况的所有不利因素