pos‧si‧bly S1 W2 / pɒsəbli, pɒsɪbli $ pɑ- / 副词

1 used when saying that something may be true or likely, although you are not completely certain 同义词 perhaps , maybe :

This last task is possibly the most difficult.

It will take three weeks, possibly longer.

‘Will you be here tomorrow?’ ‘Possibly.’

‘Was it murder?’ ‘ Quite possibly (= it is very likely ) .’

2 spoken used to emphasize that you are very surprised or shocked by something, or you cannot understand it :

How could anyone possibly do such a thing?

3 could/can you possibly spoken used when making a polite request :

Could you possibly close that window?

4 used to emphasize that someone will do or has done everything they can to help or to achieve something :

We shall be contributing as much as we possibly can to the campaign.

Doctors did everything they possibly could to save his life.

5 used to emphasize that you cannot do something, or that something cannot or could not happen or be done

can’t/couldn’t possibly

I can’t possibly allow you to go home in this weather.

She couldn’t possibly have heard what was said.