possibilities

英 [ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪtiz]

美 [ˌpɑsəˈbɪlətiz]

n.  可能; 可能性; 可选择的方法; 机会; 契机
possibility的复数

柯林斯词典

• N-COUNT 可能性；可能
  If you say there is apossibility thatsomething is the case orthatsomething will happen, you mean that it might be the case or it might happen.
  1. We were not in the least worried about the possibility that sweets could rot the teeth...
     我们以前完全不担心吃糖果有可能会蛀牙。
  2. Tax on food has become a very real possibility.
     极有可能征收食物税。
• N-COUNT （一种）可能；可能的事
  Apossibilityis one of several different things that could be done.
  1. The government now owns a lot of our land — one possibility would be to compensate us with other property...
     政府现在占了我们的大量土地，一种可能是用其他地产来对我们作出补偿。
  2. There were several possibilities open to each manufacturer.
     每个制造商都可以有几种不同的选择。
• PHRASE 可能的事；能做到的事
  You can say 'It is not beyond the realms of possibility' or 'It is not beyond the bounds of possibility' when you are stating something that you believe is possibly true, but which other people might consider unlikely or impossible.
  1. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that the security services do bug important public figures.
     安全部门完全有可能窃听重要公众人物的谈话。

Note that you do not usepossibilityin sentences like 'I had the possibility to do it'. The words you need areopportunityorchance.Opportunityis more formal.Later Donald had the opportunity of driving the car… The people of Northern Ireland would have the chance to shape their own future.
注意不要说：I had the possibility to do it，而要用opportunity或chance。opportunity一词比较正式，例如：Later Donald had the opportunity of driving the car（后来，唐纳德有机会开这辆车了），The people of Northern Ireland would have the chance to shape their own future（北爱尔兰人民会有机会决定自己的未来的）。

双语例句

• It opens up new, previously unseen possibilities and opportunities.
  它开启了新的、之前未看见的可能和机会。
• She is now in further education with new career possibilities ahead of her
  她现在正在进修，新的职业发展机会就摆在面前。
• It was also felt that the collapse of the system opened up new possibilities
  人们也认为这一制度的崩溃带来了各种新的可能性。
• Yes, I am interested in the research and development possibilities.
  是的，我对其研究和发展的可能性很有兴趣。
• It should also look into the possibilities of wind-generated electricity.
  还会对风力发电的可能性进行研究。
• There are all sorts of possibilities for technical innovation.
  技术革新的门路很多。
• The discovery has fastened public attention on the possibilities of DNA analysis for resolving mysteries.
  这一发现将公众的注意力集中在用DNA分析技术来解开谜团的可能性上。
• I think one's got to consider all the possibilities.
  我认为有必要考虑到各种可能性。
• There are only two possibilities.
  不外两种可能。
• I feel full of confidence and so open to possibilities
  我感到信心十足，愿意考虑各种可能。