POSSIBLE1 when something can be done2 when something could happen3 to make something possibleRELATED WORDSoppositeIMPOSSIBLEsee alsoMAYBEPROBABLYCAN/CAN'T1 when something can be done 某事可以做成possible /ˈpɒsɪbəl, ˈpɒsəbəlǁˈpɑː-/ [adjective]something that ispossible, can be done 可能的；可能做到的 Travel to other planets may soon be possible. 去其他行星旅行也许很快就会成为可能。 Detectives can now check every criminal's records, which wouldn't be possible without computers. 侦探们现在可以核对每个罪犯的记录，没有电脑这是做不到的。 The only possible way a woman could rise in class was to marry into a family of higher social standing than her own. 从前女性想提高社会等级唯一可行的办法是嫁入比自己社会等级更高的人家。it is possible to do something Is it possible to find a room in a good hotel for less than $100? 100美元之内能入住一家好的酒店吗？if possible I want to get back by 5 o'clock if possible. 可能的话，我想5点之前回来。as soon/quickly/big etc as possible Please let me know your answer as soon as possible. 请尽快回复。 We must get her to the hospital as quickly as possible. 我们必须尽快把她送往医院。humanly possibleuse this to emphasize that you will do something as fast, as well etc as possible 尽人力所及的〔用于强调〕 We will deal with all complaints as soon as is humanly possible. 我们会全力以赴尽快处理所有的投诉。do/try everything possible The doctors did everything possible to save her life. 医生们竭尽全力抢救她的生命。possibly [adverb] It was the best vacation you could possibly imagine. 这是你能想象得到的最好的休假。can be done /kæn biː ˈdʌn/ [verb phrase]if somethingcan be done, it is possible to do it 可以做成 The job can be done by Friday if we all make an effort. 要是我们大家努力的话，这件工作可以在星期五之前完成。 I'm sure that more could be done to help the homeless. 我肯定，为无家可归者提供的帮助可以更多些。 Val got her MA while she was working full-time, so it can be done. 瓦尔一边攻读文学硕士学位一边做全职工作，因此，那是做得到的。possibility /ˌpɒsɪˈbɪləti, ˌpɒsəˈbɪlətiǁˌpɑː-/ [countable noun]one of the things that you could try to do 可能；可能性 One possibility is to offer him more money. 一种可能是再给他钱。 Computers have opened up many exciting possibilities. 电脑创造了许多精彩的可能。the possibility of doing something We are considering the possibility of providing a new class for advanced students. 我们在考虑为高级程度的学生开设一门新课的可能性。feasible /ˈfiːzɪbəl, ˈfiːzəbəl/ [adjective]a plan, idea, or method that isfeasible is possible and is likely to work 〔计划、主意或方法〕可行的，行得通的 Barrington suggest transporting the supplies by air. This of course is perfectly feasible. 巴林顿建议空运物资。这当然完全行得通。 We agreed on a feasible plan and within a week we implemented it. 我们同意了一个可行方案，一周内付诸实施了。it is feasible to do something It is not feasible to have security cameras in every part of the building. 在大楼的每个角落安装摄像头是不可行的。it is feasible that Da Silva considered it feasible that uranium could be produced on an industrial scale. 达西尔瓦认为工业化生产铀是可行的。feasibility /ˌfiːzɪˈbɪləti, ˌfiːzəˈbɪləti/ [uncountable noun]whether something is feasible: 可行性 Experts are studying the feasibility of a solar energy project. 专家们正在对一个太阳能利用计划进行可行性研究。workable /ˈwɜːʳkəbəl/ [adjective]aworkable way of doing something is a possible way of doing it - use this when you have had a lot of problems finding a suitable way 可行的〔用于有许多问题想找出适合的方法时〕 There is a dispute over land but we believe we have found a workable solution to this problem. 土地引起了纠纷，但我们相信已找到一个能解决该问题的切实可行的方法。 A new plan provides for loans to students, but to make the system workable more government funding will be needed. 根据新的方案，将向学生发放贷款，但要使该制度切实可行，还需要政府提供更多的资金。doable /ˈduːəbəl/ [adjective not before noun]informala job that isdoable is one that can be done 【非正式】行得通的，可以做的 You did well to even start the project -- at first we didn't think it was doable at all. 你干得不赖，竟然把这项计划开了个头—最初我们觉得这个计划根本行不通。attainable /əˈteɪnəbəl/ [adjective]an aim or standard that isattainable is one that can be achieved and it is reasonable to try to achieve it 〔目标或标准〕可以达到的 Perfect democracy is not attainable, nor is perfect freedom or perfect justice. 完全的民主并不能达到，完全的自由或公正也不能。 Every child should be educated to the highest attainable level. 应该让每个儿童都受到尽可能高的教育。viable /ˈvaɪəbəl/ [adjective]aviable way of doing something is one that is possible and should work well 切实可行的 Do you think this is a viable proposition? 你认为这个建议可行吗? Nuclear energy is the only viable alternative to coal or gas. 核能是唯一可替代煤或汽油的能源。 They are in favour of the program, but they want strong assurances that it is viable. 他们赞成此计划，但需要这个计划是切实可行的明确保证。viability /ˌvaɪəˈbɪlɪti, ˌvaɪəˈbɪləti/ [uncountable noun]whether or not something is viable 可行性 We are currently investigating the viability of this proposal. 目前，我们正在研究这项建议的可行性。2 when something could happen 某事可能发生possible /ˈpɒsɪbəl, ˈpɒsəbəlǁˈpɑː-/ [adjective]if something ispossible, there is a chance that it may happen or it may be true 可能发生的 Accidents are always possible in heavy industries like mining. 在采矿那样的重工业中，事故发生的可能性总是存在。 You can't be a Muslim and a Catholic at the same time - it's just not possible. 你不能同时做穆斯林和天主教徒—那是不可能的。 technological changes and their possible effects on our lives 技术革新及其对我们生活的可能影响it is possible for somebody to do something It is possible for more than one person to win the competition. 不只一个人在竞赛中获胜是可能的。it is possible that It is possible that the children are still alive. 孩子们可能还活着。possibly [adverb] He could possibly be released from prison within three years. 他可能在三年内被释放出狱。possibility /ˌpɒsɪˈbɪləti, ˌpɒsəˈbɪlətiǁˌpɑː-/ [countable/uncountable noun]something that can happen or may happen 可能；可能性possibility of We could not ignore the possibility of an enemy attack. 我们不能忽略敌人发动进攻的可能性。there is a possibility that Unless there is some change in the economy, there is a possibility that the plant may close. 除非经济上有些变化，否则那家工厂可能会倒闭。a real/distinct/strong possibilitysomething that is quite likely to happen 真实的/明显的/极大的可能 A Republican victory in next month's elections now seems to be a real possibility. 现在看来共和党在下个月的选举中真有可能获胜。 There's a distinct possibility that there will be another earthquake. 显然很可能会再度发生地震。a faint/slight possibility There is still a faint possibility that Sarah will be found safe and well. 仍有一线希望将萨拉平安找回。can /kən, strong kæn/ [modal verb]if somethingcan happen, it is possible for it to happen at some time 可以，可能 Mistakes can occur, even in the most carefully controlled situations. 甚至在最小心控制的情况下仍有可能出错。 A lot can happen in two years. 两年里可以发生许多事。 It can be warm in England, even in March. 英格兰可能天气暖和，即使在3月也是如此。potential /pəˈtenʃəl/ [adjective only before noun]apotential problem, advantage, effect etc is not a problem, advantage etc now, but it may become one in the future 潜在的，有可能的〔问题、好处、影响等〕 For the first time she realized the potential danger of her situation. 她第一次意识到自己所处形势的潜在危险。 It is important for manufacturers to identify potential problems at the design stage. 制造商在产品的设计阶段就应该发现潜在的问题，这一点很重要。potential customer/buyer/student etcsomeone who may become a customer, buyer etc in the future 潜在顾客/买主/学生等 a way of making the college more attractive to potential students 使该学院更吸引潜在学生的方法there is a chance/possibility /ðeər ɪz ə ˈtʃɑːns, ˌpɒsˈbɪltiǁ-ˈtʃæns, ˌpɑː-/ [verb phrase]use this to say that it is possible that something will happen 有可能there is a chance/possibility of On the northern hills there is always the possibility of a snow shower, even in June. 北方的山上总有下雪的可能，甚至在6月也一样。there is a chance/possibility that Is there any chance that he will recover from his injury in time for the race? 他能否及时养好伤参加比赛？you never know /juː ˌnevəʳ ˈnəʊ/say this to show that you think there is some possibility that something might happen, even though it seems unlikely 很难说 I'd love to be a doctor, but you have to be very clever for that. Still, you never know. 我想当医生，但那得十分聪明才行。不过也很难说。3 to make something possible 使某事成为可能make something possible /ˌmeɪk something ˈpɒsbəlǁ-ˈpɑː-/ [verb phrase] We are grateful to everyone who made this event possible. 我们感谢所有促成此事的人。make it possible for somebody to do something Satellite broadcasting made it possible for people all over the world to watch the 1960 Olympic Games. 卫星转播使全世界的人能够观看1960年的奥运会。allow/enable /əˈlaʊ, ɪˈneɪbəl/ [transitive verb]especially writtento make it possible for someone to do something that they want to do 【尤书面】使有可能；使能够allow/enable somebody to do something The Internet allows people to send messages all over the world. 互联网使人们得以向全世界发送信息。 The sports school has enabled 10,000 youngsters to receive free tuition in a wide range of sports. 该体育学校使10,000名年轻人可以免费接受各种体育项目的训练。permit /pəʳˈmɪt/ [intransitive/transitive verb]formalto make it possible for something to happen or for someone to do something 【正式】允许；使有可能 I would like to go into this argument in some detail, but time does not permit it. 我想把理由讲详细点，但时间不允许。permit somebody to do something Unit pricing is a system that permits the customer to compare the costs of products. 单位标价制是一种使顾客能够比较产品价格的制度。weather/ time etc permittingif the weather, time etc makes it possible 如果天气/时间等允许 In summer, meals are eaten in the garden, weather permitting. 夏天时，如果天气允许的话，大家可在花园里进餐。pave the way for /ˌpeɪv ðə ˈweɪ fɔːʳ/ [verb phrase]to make it possible for something to happen by producing the right conditions for it 为…创造条件；为…铺平道路 Galileo's achievements in physical science paved the way for Newton's discoveries. 伽利略在自然科学方面的成就为牛顿的发现铺平了道路。 In 1930's Germany, the depression helped Hitler rise to power, paving the way for the Second World War. 在20世纪30年代的德国，大萧条帮助希特勒上台，为发动第二次世界大战播下了种子。clear the way for /ˌklɪəʳ ðə ˈweɪ fɔːʳ/ [verb phrase]to make it possible for something to happen by removing difficulties that existed before 为…扫除障碍 The removal of trade restrictions cleared the way for a rapid development of East-West relations. 取消贸易限制为东西方关系的快速发展扫除了障碍。 a vote that cleared the way for the ordination of women priests 为任命女性牧师扫除障碍的投票