impossibly

/ɪmˈpɒsəbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈpɑːsəbli/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-blē/ (ame, mw)

impossibly — adverb

1. to an extent that feels far beyond what is normal or expected.

1.副詞C1
釋義

to an extent that feels far beyond what is normal or expected.

例句

The tea was impossibly hot, so Bao waited before taking a sip.

impossibly + adjective for extreme degree

From the boat, the waterfall looked impossibly tall against the dark cliffs.

look + impossibly + adjective

同義詞
  • extremely

    a broad high-frequency intensifier with less dramatic force

  • incredibly

    often sounds more emotional or conversational

  • unbelievably

    stresses that the degree is hard to believe

反義詞

文法句型

impossibly + adjective

impossibly + adverb

用法筆記

Usually comes before an adjective or another adverb to intensify it. Distinguish from adverb/2, where the word suggests a demand or standard that cannot realistically be met.

常見錯誤

❌The tea was impossible hot.
✅The tea was impossibly hot.
💡use the adverb to modify an adjective, not the adjective form.

2. so unrealistically that the result seems unable to happen, succeed, or be accept

2.副詞C1
釋義

so unrealistically that the result seems unable to happen, succeed, or be accepted.

例句

The editor gave Diya an impossibly short deadline for the festival guide.

impossibly + adjective before a noun

The rules were impossibly strict for children at a summer camp.

be impossibly + adjective

同義詞
  • unrealistically

    the closest match when a demand or plan cannot work in real life

  • absurdly

    stronger and more critical, often suggesting the standard is ridiculous

  • impractically

    focuses on something being hard to carry out in practice

反義詞
  • realistically

    shows that a plan or standard can reasonably work

  • reasonably

    suggests a limit that people could fairly meet or accept

文法句型

impossibly + adjective + noun

be impossibly + adjective

用法筆記

Often modifies adjectives such as short, high, strict, or small when they describe a limit people are expected to meet. Distinguish from adverb/1: here the point is not just a strong degree, but that the situation seems beyond what can realistically be done.

常見錯誤

❌The landlord asked an impossibly deposit.
✅The landlord asked for an impossibly high deposit.
💡'impossibly' needs an adjective or adverb to modify, not a noun by itself.