Impossible Meaning
/ɪmˈpɒs.ɪ.bəl/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot possible; not able to be done or happen.
adjVery difficult to deal with.
Sentence Examples
It's impossible for me to explain it to you.
Let's face it, it's impossible. We're never gonna make it.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is ____ to swim across the entire ocean because it is too vast.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is simply ____ for me to attend the meeting tomorrow as I will be out of the city.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English impossible, equivalent to im- + possible.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Antonio: What impossible matter will he make easy next?
Sebastian: I think he will carry this island home in his pocket and give it his son for an apple.
Antonio : And sowing the kernels of it in the sea bring forth more islands."
— 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
"It was impoſſible that the queen of France [Marie Antoinette] ſhould not be deeply affected by a conteſt, which ſo cloſely involved her neareſt and deareſt connections, and threatened ſo immediate and perhaps irreparable a breach of the harmony and friendſhip ſubſiſting between them."
— 1787, “The History of Europe”, in The Annual Register, or A View of the History, Politics, and Literature, for the Years 1784 and 1785, volume XXVII, London: Printed by J[ames] Dodsley, in Pall-Mall, →OCLC, chapter VIII, page 134, column 1:
"ALICE: I'm looking for a White Rabbit.... So if you don't mind. (Alice looks through the key hole) There he is - I simply must get through
DOORKNOB: Sorry, you're much too big. Simply impassable.
ALICE: You mean impossible.
DOORKNOB: No, IMPASSABLE - NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE."
— 1951, Alice in Wonderland, Walt Disney Productions; quoted in Jabberwocky, volumes 1–2, The Lewis Carroll Society, 1969, page 9:
"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."
— 2013 June 28, Joris Luyendijk, “Our banks are out of control”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 3, page 21:
"I never met a more impossible girl."
— 2006, Amanda Palmer, “Delilah”, in Yes, Virginia..., performed by The Dresden Dolls:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is ____ to swim across the entire ocean because it is too vast.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is simply ____ for me to attend the meeting tomorrow as I will be out of the city.