好词典

possibly

UK //ˈpɒsəbli//US //ˈpɑːsəbli//

词源

源自中古英语,由possible(可能的)加副词后缀-ly构成,最终源自拉丁语possibilis(能够做到的)。

adverb

❶ 表示某事有可能发生或为真,但不确定,相当于中文的“可能”、“或许”。常用于表达推测或委婉语气。

“She will possibly arrive late due to the traffic.”

(由于交通拥堵,她可能会迟到。)

“This is possibly the best cake I've ever tasted.”

(这可能是我吃过的最好吃的蛋糕。)

❶ 用于否定句或疑问句,强调极端情况的不可能性,相当于“无论如何也不可能”。

“I can't possibly finish all this work by myself.”

(我一个人无论如何也完成不了所有这些工作。)

“How could she possibly know our secret?”

(她怎么可能知道我们的秘密?)

同义词:perhaps, maybe, potentially, conceivably

常见短语

as soon as possibly — 尽快,强调在最短时间内完成某事,比“as soon as possible”更口语化。

“Please reply to this email as soon as possibly.”

(请尽快回复这封邮件。)