if possible (=if it is possible to do it) / want to get back by 5 o'clock if possible. as soon/quickly as possible Please let me know your answer as soon as possible (=as soon as you can) I We must get her to the hospital as quickly as possible
everything possible (^everything that can possibly be done) The doctors did everything possible to save her life.
can be done /кэп hi: d\r\j if something can be done, it is possible to do it: The job can be done by Friday if we all make an effort. I I'm sure that more could be done to help the homeless. I Val got her MA while she was working full-time, so it can be done, you see.
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possibility pns^biUtiipa:-/ In C] one of the things that you could try to do: One possibility is that we could offer him more money. I Beth decided that she wanted to start her own business, and began to explore the possibilities, consider/discuss the possibility of doing sth (=consider whether you could do it) We are considering the possibility of providing a new class for advanced students.
when something can happen
possible /'pos^MII'pa:-/ [adj] if something
is possible. :here is a chance that it may haopen or it may be true: Accidents are always possible in heavy industries like mining. I "1 think I saw Jack in the street yesterday." "That's not possible! He's in Kenva at the moment." I tech- nological changes and their possible effects on our lives
it is possible for It is possible for more than one person to win the competition. it is possible that It is possible that the children are still alive. possibly \odv] He could possibly be released from prison within three years.
possibility ' pns.Vhiii.til po:-/ |n С] something that can happen or may happen: A Republican victory in next month's elections now seems to be a real possibility. + of We could not ignore the possibility of an enemy attack.
a distinct possibility (=something that is likely to happen) There's a distinct possibility that there will be another earthquake.
соп ,'кэп; strong kitn [moda/ verb] if something can happen, it is possible for it to happen at some time: Anyone can make a mistake. I A lot can happen in two years.
potential /p3'tenj>l [adj only before noun] a potential problem, advantage, effect etc is not a problem, advantage etc now/, but it may become one in the future: Why was the chemical factory built so close to the town? Didn 't people realize the potential risks?
potential customer/buyer/student etc
(-someone who may become a customer, buyer etc in the future) one way of making the college more attractive to potential students
there is a chance/there is a possibility /беэг iz э tja:ns. беэг iz о pns^- 'biljtil-'tjaens, -pa:-; use this to say that it is
possible that something will happen + ofOn the northern hills there isalways the possibility of a snow shower even in June.
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+ that Is there any chance that he will recover from his injury in time for the
race:
to make something possible
make sth possible meik (sth) posV
tvl|- pu:-
make sth possible We ore grateful to Mr Johnson. who made this event possible by letting us use his land. make it possible for sb to do sth
Safe/fate broadcasting made it possible for people ail over the world to watch the 1960 Olympic Games.
allow/enable /экю, ineih?!/ [и T] [specially written to make it possible for someone to do something that they want to do
allow/enable sb to do sth The Internet allows people to send messages all over
the world. 1 The money from her aunt enabled Maxine to buy a small restaurant.
POWER
control - _ environment
\ Я
see also
it *
IN CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT/
POUTKS
the ability to control people and events
power /'раоэг/ [n U] the ability or the right to control other people and make decisions that affect them: Do you think the police have too much power? 1 the desire for power
great/enormous power the enormous economic power of the United States + over The big Hollywood studios have a lot of power over what kind of films get made.
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POWER
have the power to do sth On/у Parliament has the power to make new laws
! /t\ Don't say 'he wanted the power'. Say he wanted power
influence 'millions (n U] if someone has influence, they can use their important social position or their wealth to persuade other people to do things: The Catholic Church has always had a lot of influence in Polish politics.
+ over The banks had too much influence over government policy.
authority ■Di'HnrUi, Mb:- [n U]
the right to make decisions and control people, which a person has because of their job or official position: No one dared to question the principal's authority. + over In the British system, the mayor has no authority over the local police. the authority to do sth Every manager has the authority to dismiss employees.
Use authority to talk about the rights and power that people have, but not to talk about the power that countries have.
В someone who has a lot of power
power/ul раоо'ТД [adj] a powerful
person, organization, or country has a lot of power, and can control peop.e and influence events: Parliament had become more powerful than the King. I one of the most powerful men in US politics I Berlusconi was the owner of a powerful media empire.
in/luential mllu'enpU [adj] someone who is influential can influence events, because they are rich, important, or greatly respected, and therefore people pay attention to what they say: Her uncle is a rich and influential businessman. I She is probably the most influential member of the finance committee. I an influential film critic
highly influential (=very influential) Gaibraith was a high/y influential writer on economic affairs.