possibly
possibly は英検準2級・英検2級・TOEIC 600レベルの英単語で、「ひょっとすると、到底、できる限り」という意味があります。発音記号は /ˈpɑːsɪbli/ です。
意味一覧 (3件)
ひょっとすると
解説 Definition
あることが起こる可能性はあるが、確実ではないことを表す副詞です。「もしかすると」「ことによると」に近く、probably より控えめで不確かな響きがあります。また、Could you possibly ...? のように、依頼や質問をやわらかく丁寧にするためにも使われます。
Possibly means that something may happen or may be true, but you are not sure. It is used to talk about a chance or possibility. In conversation, it can also make a statement sound less direct or more careful.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
possibly は「可能性がある」という possible から来た副詞で、この項目では「ひょっとすると」「ことによると」という不確かな推量を表します。話し手が断定を避け、may や could に近い控えめな響きを添える語です。別項目の「できる限り」は can / could と組む強調用法なので、ここでは probably より弱い「ありえるが確信はない」という距離感に注目して覚えましょう。
Start with `possible`, then add `-ly` to make the adverb `possibly`. It often sounds less certain than `probably`, so it is useful when the speaker wants to be careful or not too direct. The polite phrase `Could you possibly ...?` is a good memory hook.
例文
She could possibly finish the report by tonight.
ひょっとすると、彼女は今夜までにその報告書を仕上げられるかもしれない。
This is possibly the most delicious cake I have ever tasted.
これはひょっとすると、私が今まで食べた中でいちばんおいしいケーキかもしれない。
They will possibly cancel the meeting if the storm gets worse.
嵐がひどくなれば、ひょっとすると彼らは会議を中止するかもしれない。
到底
(意味 2)解説 Definition
否定文や疑問文で使われ、「どう考えても無理だ」「そんなことはありえない」という強い気持ちを表します。特に can't possibly の形でよく現れ、能力や可能性を強く打ち消すときに使われます。
Possibly is often used in negative sentences and questions to make a possibility sound very unlikely or impossible. It adds a strong feeling that something cannot happen, cannot be true, or cannot be done, no matter how you think about it. It is especially common with can’t, as in a strong denial of ability or possibility.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
possible が「ありえる」なら、possibly はそこに -ly が付いて「ありえる感じで」→「ひょっとすると」と取ると覚えやすいです。probably より確信が弱く、話し手が一歩引いている響きが重要。文頭でも文中でも使え、断定を避けるクッション語として働きます。Could you possibly ...? は「そんなこと、していただけますか」と遠慮を強める定番表現。possible→possibly の形の変化と、「可能だが未確定」という距離感を結び付けて覚えると残ります。
Think of possible as “able to happen,” and possibly as “in a possible way.” It often means “maybe,” but it is weaker than probably, so the speaker is keeping some distance from the statement. In negative sentences like can’t possibly, it becomes much stronger and means that something is impossible no matter how you look at it.
例文
I can’t possibly finish this report by tonight.
このレポートを今夜までに終えるなんて到底無理だ。
How could he possibly know about our plan?
彼が私たちの計画を知っているなんて到底ありえない。
You can’t possibly expect everyone to agree with that idea.
その考えに全員が賛成すると期待するなんて到底無理だ。
できる限り
(意味 3)解説 Definition
can や could と一緒に使い、「可能な範囲で最大限に」という強調を表します。as soon as you possibly can や do everything one possibly can のように、努力・速さ・量などを限界まで高める文脈でよく使います。
In this use, possibly is often used with can or could to add strong emphasis. It means to the greatest degree that is possible in the situation, especially when talking about speed, effort, amount, or care. You often see it in patterns like as soon as you possibly can or do everything you possibly can. In these expressions, possibly does not mean maybe; it means within the full limit of what is possible.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
possible は「可能な」、possibly はその副詞形です。この意味では「ひょっとすると」ではなく、can / could と組んで「可能な限界まで」という強調になります。as soon as possible の possible を副詞にして as soon as you possibly can と言う形を覚えると便利です。努力・時間・費用などを「できる範囲で最大に/最小に」する場面で出やすい用法です。
Remember that possible means able to be done, and possibly is its adverb form. In this pattern, it does not mean maybe. When you hear can or could with possibly, think of the idea of pushing something to its limit, like as soon as you possibly can. It is useful for talking about making effort, saving time, or reducing cost as much as possible.
例文
Please call me back as soon as you possibly can.
できる限り早く折り返し電話してください。
We did everything we possibly could to help her.
私たちは彼女を助けるためにできる限りのことをした。
Try to keep costs as low as you possibly can.
費用をできる限り低く抑えるようにして。
possibly の語源・成り立ち Etymology
possibly は possible に副詞語尾 -ly が付いた形。possible はラテン語 possibilis「できる」が起源で、posse「できる」に由来するため、原義は「起こりうるように」で、そこから「おそらく」となる。関連語は impossible, possibility。
Possibly was formed from possible plus the adverb suffix -ly. Possible comes through Latin possibilis from posse, meaning "to be able." So the word originally meant "in a way that can happen or can be done," and later also came to be used for "perhaps." Related words include impossible and possibility.
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