- that cannot exist or be done; not possible
- almost/virtually/nearly impossible
- Only a year ago this would have seemed impossible.
- Getting any kind of decent job was proving impossible.
- an impossible dream/goal
- impossible for somebody Going downstairs would be impossible for him with his sprained ankle.
- impossible to do The outcome is impossible to predict.
- It's impossible to prove.
- Cheap rental accommodation was impossible to find.
- it is impossible to do something It's impossible to say which is the best.
- It is impossible to tell whether it will actually work.
- I find it impossible to lie to her.
- it is impossible for somebody to do something It's impossible for me to be there before eight.
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintya2- I'm really sorry. It's just impossible.
- It's probably impossible to know whether such conversations took place.
- Cooking for forty would be frankly impossible without my new assistant.
- The high cost of childcare made returning to work economically impossible.
- Darkness made it impossible to continue.
- I found his offer impossible to resist.
- It's impossible for me to say.
- They are setting a standard that it is humanly impossible to meet.
- It was well-nigh impossible for him to convince her that he was right.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- look
- …
- absolutely
- completely
- downright
- …
- for
- very difficult to deal with
- I've been placed in an impossible position.
- Honestly, you're impossible at times!
Extra Examples- I find her impossible.
- The situation is just impossible for us.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- find somebody
- …
- really
- absolutely
- completely
- …
- the impossiblenoun [singular] a thing that is or seems impossible
- to attempt the impossible
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, or from Latin impossibilis, from in- ‘not’ + possibilis, from posse ‘be able’.
Idioms
See impossible in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee impossible in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishmission impossible
- a difficult or impossible task
- Many regard this task as mission impossible.
Check pronunciation:
impossible