impossible

adjective im·pos·si·ble \(ˌ)im-ˈpä-sə-bəl\

: unable to be done or to happen : not possible

: very difficult

of a person : very difficult to deal with : very irritating or annoying

Full Definition of IMPOSSIBLE

a : incapable of being or of occurring

b : felt to be incapable of being done, attained, or fulfilled : insuperably difficult <an impossible deadline>

a : extremely undesirable : unacceptable

b : extremely awkward or difficult to deal with <the actor was impossible on the set>

— im·pos·si·ble·ness noun

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Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin impossibilis, from in- + possibilis possible

First Known Use: 14th century

Synonyms: hopeless, insoluble, insolvable, insuperable, unattainable, undoable, unrealizable, unsolvable

Antonyms: achievable, attainable, doable, feasible, possible, realizable, resolvable, soluble, workable

IMPOSSIBLE Defined for Kids

adjective im·pos·si·ble \im-ˈpä-sə-bəl\

: incapable of being or of occurring : not possible <The noise makes it impossible to concentrate.>

: very difficult <These math problems are impossible!>

: very bad or unpleasant <She is impossible to deal with.>

— im·pos·si·bly \-blē\ adverb

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