word-vault/dist/data/cards/im/impossible.json

A lightweight JavaScript package for English word definitions and collections.

{
    "term": "impossible",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjectivenoun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "that cannot exist or be done; not possible",
            "sensetop": "impossible for somebodyimpossible to doit is impossible to do somethingit is impossible for somebody to do something",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "**almost/virtually/nearly impossible**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Only a year ago this would have **seemed impossible**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Getting any kind of decent job **was proving impossible**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an impossible dream/goal"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Going downstairs would be impossible for him with his sprained ankle.",
                    "contextForm": "impossible for somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The outcome is **impossible to predict**.",
                    "contextForm": "impossible to do"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's impossible to prove."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Cheap rental accommodation was impossible to find."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's **impossible to say** which is the best.",
                    "contextForm": "it is impossible to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is **impossible to tell** whether it will actually work."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I **find it impossible** to lie to her."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's impossible for me to be there before eight.",
                    "contextForm": "it is impossible for somebody to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'm really sorry. It's just impossible."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's probably impossible to know whether such conversations took place."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Cooking for forty would be frankly impossible without my new assistant."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The high cost of childcare made returning to work economically impossible."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Darkness made it impossible to continue."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I found his offer impossible to resist."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's impossible for me to say."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are setting a standard that it is humanly impossible to meet."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It was well-nigh impossible for him to convince her that he was right."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["appear", "be", "look"],
                "adverb": ["absolutely", "completely", "downright"],
                "preposition": ["for"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "very difficult to deal with",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've been placed in an **impossible position**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Honestly, you're impossible at times!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I find her impossible."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The situation is just impossible for us."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["be", "become", "find somebody"],
                "adverb": ["really", "absolutely", "completely"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a thing that is or seems impossible",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "to attempt the impossible"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a difficult or impossible task",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Many regard this task as mission impossible."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈpɒsəbl/",
                "audio": "im/impossible/impossible__gb_3.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ɪmˈpɑːsəbl/",
                "audio": "im/impossible/impossible__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old French, or from Latin impossibilis, from in- ‘not’ + possibilis, from posse ‘be able’."
}