Impossible

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪmˈpÉ’sɪbÉ™l/
• Hyphenation: im + pos + si + ble

Alternative forms

• inpossible obsolete

Origin

From Old French impossible, from Latin impossibilis, from in- ("not") + possibilis ("possible"), from possum ("to be able") + suffix -ibilis ("-able").

Full definition of impossible

Adjective

1. Not possible, not able to be done.
• 1865, Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in WonderlandNothing is impossible, only impassible.
• 13 March 1962, John F. KennedyThose who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
• 2013-06-28, Joris Luyendijk, Our banks are out of control, Seeing the British establishment struggle with the financial sector is like watching an alcoholic ….  Until 2008 there was denial over what finance had become. When a series of bank failures made this impossible, there was widespread anger, leading to the public humiliation of symbolic figures.
2. It is difficult, if not impossible, to memorize 20,000 consecutive numbers.
   Sarah thinks that nothing is impossible because things can always somehow happen.
3. (colloquial, of a person) Very difficult to deal with.
   You never listen to a word I say – you're impossible!
4. (math, dated) imaginaryimpossible quantities, or imaginary numbers

Related terms

• impossibility
• impossibly

Synonyms

• unpossible rare

Antonyms

• (not able to be done) possible

Noun

1. an impossibility
• Late 14th century: “Madame,” quod he, “this were an impossible!” — Geoffrey Chaucer, ‘The Franklin's Tale’, Canterbury Tales
2. (uncountable) with definite article that which seems impossibleIf we work together, we can achieve the impossible!