possibly

The word “possibly” means perhaps; used to show something might be true. In plain terms, perhaps, or used to stress whether something can be done at all.

“Possibly” is pronounced POS-uh-blee (/ˈpɑ.sɪ.bli/ in IPA).

Here is “possibly” used in a sentence: “She could possibly arrive late tonight.”

“Possibly” is an adverb.

“Possibly” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Possibly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: perhaps; used to show something might be true.

The two express different levels of certainty. 'Possibly' means something might happen, one option among several with no strong likelihood. 'Probably' means something is likely, more expected than not. If you are genuinely unsure, say possibly; if you lean towards yes, say probably instead.

They mean almost the same thing, since both signal that something is uncertain but conceivable. 'Maybe' is slightly more casual and often starts a sentence, while 'possibly' feels a touch more formal and slots easily into the middle of one. In most cases you can swap one for the other.

Here 'possibly' is used for emphasis rather than to express chance. 'I can't possibly finish this today' means finishing is completely out of the question, not merely unlikely. Paired with a negative, possibly strengthens the statement, stressing that something is impossible or unthinkable rather than uncertain.

Possibly is neutral and works comfortably in both formal and informal settings. You can use it in casual conversation and in professional or academic writing alike. It is a slightly more measured alternative to 'maybe,' which is why it often appears in careful or polite phrasing.