| 例句 |
possibility noun
⇨ possibility (the possibility of tax increases) ⇨ opportunity (career possibilities) ⇨ option (a range of possibilities) ⇨ potential (see the possibilities of the plan) possibility noun possibility ♦︎ chance ♦︎ probability ♦︎ odds ♦︎ prospect ♦︎ likelihoodThese are all words for how likely sth is to happen, or for a thing that is likely to happen. 这些词均表示可能性或可能发生的事。SYNONYM SCALE 词义标尺 下图显示这些词所表达可能的程度| possibility | ➔ | prospect | ➔ | probability | | chance | | | | likelihood | | odds | | | | |
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆a possibility / a chance / a probability / the odds / the prospect / the likelihood of sth◆a possibility / a chance / the probability / the odds / the prospect / the likelihood that...◆a real / reasonable possibility / chance / probability / prospect / likelihood◆a strong possibility / chance / probability / likelihood◆a high chance / probability / likelihood◆a realistic / serious / remote possibility / chance / prospect◆every possibility / chance / probability / prospect / likelihood◆little chance / prospect / likelihood◆There is (no) possibility / chance / prospect / likelihood of sth.◆The chances / probability / odds / likelihood is / are that...◆to have the possibility / a chance / a ... probability / the prospect / a ...likelihood◆to increase / reduce the possibility / chance / probability / odds / likelihood◆to calculate the probability / odds / likelihood■ possibility [uncountable, countable] the fact that sth might exist or happen, but is not certain to 可能；可能性◆He refused to rule out the possibility of a tax increase.他拒绝排除加税的可能性。◆ (especially BrE) It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that we'll all meet again one day.我们大家将来有一天再度聚首，这绝非不可能。◆What had seemed impossible now seemed a distinct possibility.曾经看似不可能的事情现在显然有可能实现。◆There is a remote possibility that we might have got it wrong.我们也有可能搞错了，但可能性不大。 see also possible ⇨ likely ■ chance [countable, uncountable] a possibility that sth might exist or happen, especially sth that you want （尤指愿望成真的）可能性◆Is there any chance of getting tickets for tonight?有可能弄到今晚的票吗？◆The operation has a fifty-fifty chance of success.手术成功的可能性是50%。◆As long as there is an outside chance (= a slight chance) we'll go for it.只要有一点点希望，我们都会去争取。◆She has only a slim chance of passing the exam.她通过考试的希望不大。◆There is no chance that he will change his mind.他不可能改变主意。■ probability / /ˌprɒbəˈbɪləti; NAmE ˌprɑːbəˈbɪləti/ [uncountable, countable] how likely sth is to happen; a thing that is likely to happen 可能性；很可能发生的事◆The probability is that prices will rise rapidly.物价有可能迅速上涨。◆A fall in interest rates is a strong probability in the present economic climate.在目前的经济形势下，降低利率大有可能。ⓘ In mathematics a probability is a ratio showing the chances that a particular thing will happen. 数学中probability指概率、几率◆There is a 60% probability that the population will be infected with the disease.民众感染这种病的几率是60%。 see also probable ⇨ likely ■ odds (usually the odds 通常作the odds) [plural] how likely sth is to happen; something that makes it seem impossible to do or achieve sth （事物发生的）可能性，概率；不利条件◆The odds are very much in our favour (= we are likely to succeed).我方胜算的几率极大。◆The odds are heavily against him (= he is not likely to succeed).他成功的几率很小。◆What are the odds (= how likely is it) he won't turn up?他不露面的可能性有多大？◆Against all (the) odds, he made a full recovery.原本是凶多吉少，他却完全康复了。ⓘ In betting odds are the connection between two numbers that shows how much money sb will receive if they win a bet. 赌博中，odds指投注赔率◆I put £10 on Middlesbrough to beat Manchester at odds of three to one (= three times the amount of money that has been bet by sb will be paid to them if they win).我押10英镑赌米德尔斯伯勒赢曼彻斯特，赔率三比一。◆They are offering long / short odds (= the winnings will be high / low because there is a high / low risk of losing) on the defending champion.他们为卫冕者开出了高／低赔率。 ■ prospect [uncountable, singular] (rather formal) the possibility that sth might happen, especially sth good （尤指好事发生的）可能性，希望◆There is no immediate prospect of peace.短期内没有和平的希望。◆A place in the semi-finals is in prospect (= likely to happen).可望打进半决赛。 see also prospective ⇨ likely ■ likelihood /ˈlaɪklihʊd/ / [uncountable, singular] the possibility that sth might happen; how likely sth is to happen 可能；可能性◆There is very little likelihood of that happening.几乎没有发生那种事情的可能。◆The likelihood is that (= it is likely that) unemployment figures will continue to fall.失业人数很有可能继续减少。◆In all likelihood (= very probably) the meeting will be cancelled.这次会议十有八九要取消。 see also likely ⇨ likely NOTE 辨析 Probability or likelihood? Probability is used more in scientific and technical contexts; likelihood is used more in business contexts. However, in everyday speech you can usually use either word. * probability多用于科学技术语境，likelihood多用于商务语境。但在日常生活中，两个词往往可通用。 opportunity noun opportunity ♦︎ chance ♦︎ turn ♦︎ possibility ♦︎ moment ♦︎ occasion ♦︎ break ♦︎ start ♦︎ window ♦︎ goThese are all words for a time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve sth. 这些词均表示机会、时机。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆the opportunity / a chance / your turn to do sth◆an opportunity / possibilities / an occasion for sth◆a suitable opportunity / occasion / moment◆the last opportunity / chance / moment◆to have an opportunity / a chance / a turn / a break / a window / a moment / a go◆to get / give sb an opportunity / a chance / a turn / a break / a start / a window / a moment / a go◆to wait for an opportunity / a chance / your turn / the moment / an occasion◆to take advantage of an opportunity / a chance / the possibilities / a window◆to take the opportunity / your chance / turns◆to seize an opportunity / a chance / the moment◆to miss an opportunity / your chance / a turn / a go■ opportunity [countable, uncountable] (rather formal) a time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve sth 机会；时机◆I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues for their support.我谨借此机会感谢同事的支持。◆He is rude to me at every opportunity (= whenever possible).他动不动就对我粗鲁无礼。◆There are more job opportunities in the south.南方有更多的工作机会。◆Our company promotes equal opportunities for women (= women are given the same jobs, pay, etc. as men).本公司提倡男女机会均等。◆There'll be plenty of opportunity for relaxing once the work is done.工作一完成，放松的机会有的是。■ chance [countable] an opportunity 机会；时机；机遇◆Please give me a chance to explain.请给我一个解释的机会。◆ (BrE) We won't get another chance of a holiday this year.我们今年不会再有机会度假了。◆ (NAmE) We won't get another chance at a vacation this year.我们今年不会再有机会度假了。◆Jeff deceived me once already－I won't give him a second chance.杰夫已骗过我一次，我不会再给他机会。◆This is your big chance (= opportunity for success).这是你成功的大好机会。NOTE 辨析 Opportunity or chance?In many cases you can use either word. 在许多情况下这两个词可以通用◆You'll have the opportunity / chance to ask questions at the end.你们最后将有机会提问。 Opportunity tends to be used in more formal contexts than chance, and in some phrases only one of the words can be used. 与chance相比，opportunity往往用于较正式的语境；有些短语只能用其中的一个词◆job/equal chances ◆I won't give him a second opportunity. ■ turn [countable] (especially spoken) the time when sb in a group of people should do sth or is allowed to do sth （依次轮到的）机会◆Please wait your turn.请等着轮到你。◆Whose turn is it to cook?轮到谁做饭了？◆The male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs.雄鸟和雌鸟轮流抱窝。◆ (BrE) We take it in turns to do the housework.我们轮流做家务。■ possibility [countable, usually plural] something that gives you a chance to achieve sth 机会；契机◆The class offers a range of exciting possibilities for developing your skills.这门课程提供一系列令人兴奋的技能训练。◆Career possibilities for women are much greater than they were fifty years ago.女性的职业发展机会比五十年前多很多。ⓘ In this meaning, possibilities is often used to talk about work-related situations. 表达此义时，possibilities常用于与工作相关的情形◆career / employment / development / commercial / design possibilities职业发展／就业／发展／商业／设计机会It is also often used after positive-sounding adjectives. * possibilities亦常用于褒义的形容词后◆excellent / interesting / exciting / creative possibilities绝佳的／有吸引力的／令人激动的／表现创造力的机会Note that you cannot say 'a/the possibility to do sth'. 注意，不能说a/the possibility to do sth◆I had the possibility to spend a year in Paris while I was a student. In these cases use opportunity or chance. 在这些情况下可用opportunity或chance◆I had the opportunity / chance to spend a year in Paris.我曾有机会在巴黎待过一年。 see also possible ⇨ possible 1 ■ moment [countable] (especially spoken) a particular occasion; a time for doing sth 时机；机遇；做某事的时刻◆I'm waiting for the right moment to tell him the bad news.我在找适当的时机告诉他这个坏消息。◆Have I caught you at a bad moment?我是不是来得不是时候？■ occasion [singular] (rather formal) a suitable time for doing sth 适当的机会；时机◆It should have been an occasion for rejoicing, but she could not feel any real joy.原本应该是高兴的时刻，她却丝毫不感到快乐。◆I'll speak to him about it if the occasion arises (= if I get a chance).有机会的话，我要跟他谈谈这件事。 see also occasion ⇨ time 1 ■ break [countable] (informal) a chance to do sth, usually to get sth that you want or to achieve success （满足心愿或成功的）机会，机遇◆I got my lucky break when I won a 'Young Journalist of the Year' competition.我时来运转，在“年度最佳青年记者”竞赛中获胜。■ start [countable, usually singular] the opportunity that you are given to begin sth in a successful way 起始优势；良好的基础条件◆They worked hard to give their children a good start in life.他们力争为孩子们奠定一个良好的基础。◆The job gave him his start in journalism.那份工作让他开始进入新闻行业。 see also start ⇨ start noun ■ window [countable] (especially business 尤用于商业) a time when there is an opportunity to do sth, although it may not last long 一丝机会；短暂的时机◆We now have a small window of opportunity in which to make our views known.我们现在有一线机会使人了解我们的观点。■ go (plural goes) [countable] (BrE, spoken) a person's turn to move or play in a game or activity （游戏或活动中轮到的）机会◆Whose go is it?轮到谁了？◆It's your go.轮到你了。◆'How much is it to play?' 'It's 50p a go.'“玩这游戏多少钱？”“50便士一回。”◆Can I have a go on your new bike?我能骑骑你的新自行车吗？ⓘ In American English use turn. 在美式英语中用turn。 option noun option ♦︎ choice ♦︎ alternative ♦︎ possibility ♦︎ best/good/safe betThese are all words for sth that you choose to do in a particular situation. 这些词均表示某种情况下的选择。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆with / without the option / choice / possibility of sth◆(a / an) real / realistic / viable / practical / obvious option / choice / alternative / possibility◆(a / an) good / acceptable / reasonable / healthy / available / possible / preferred / cheap / expensive option / choice / alternative◆the only option / choice / alternative / possibility open to sb◆to have / give sb / offer (sb) several options / choices / alternatives / possibilities◆to have a / an / the option / choice of doing sth◆to have no option / choice / alternative (but to do sth)◆to look at / limit the options / choices / alternatives / possibilities◆a number / range of options / choices / alternatives / possibilities■ option [countable, uncountable] something that you can choose to have or do; the freedom to choose what you do 可选择的事物；选择；选择权◆As I see it, we have two options...据我看，我们有两种选择⋯◆We are currently studying all the options available.我们现在正研究所有可能的选择。◆Going to college was not an option for me.上大学不在我的选择之列。◆Students have the option of studying abroad in their second year.学生在二年级时可以选择出国学习。◆It is important at this stage to leave your options open (= avoid making a decision so that you still have a choice in the future).在这个阶段保留选择余地很重要。ⓘ Option is also the word used in computing for one of the choices you can make when using a computer program. * option亦指计算机程序里的选项、选择◆Choose the 'Cut' option from the Edit menu.从编辑选单上选“剪切”项。 see also opt ⇨ choose , optional ⇨ voluntary 1 ■ choice [uncountable, countable, usually singular] the freedom to choose what you do; something that you can choose to have or do 选择权；可选择的事物；选择◆If I had the choice, I would stop working tomorrow.如果让我选择，我明天就不工作了。◆She's going to do it. She doesn't have much choice, really, does she?她就要那么做了。她真的没有多少选择的余地，不是吗？◆The choice is yours: a quiet drink in the bar, the late night disco or a stroll along the beach.由你来选：在酒吧里安静地喝一杯，去跳夜场迪斯科，还是到海滩漫步？◆There is a wide range of choices open to you.你有很大的选择余地。 see also choice ⇨ choice 1 2 , choose ⇨ choose , choose ⇨ decide ■ alternative /ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv; NAmE ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/ [countable] something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities 可供选择的事物；其中一种选择◆You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives.你的报酬可以按周以现金支取，或按月以支票支取。二者可选其一。◆We had no alternative but to (= we had to) fire Gibson.我们别无他法，只有辞退吉布森。◆There is a vegetarian alternative on the menu every day.每天的菜单上另有素食可供选择。NOTE 辨析 Option, choice or alternative? Choice is slightly less formal than option, and alternative is slightly more formal. Choice is most often used for 'the freedom to choose', although you can sometimes also use option (but not usually alternative). * choice较option略为非正式，而alternative则略为正式。表示选择权或选择的自由最常用choice，不过有时也可用option，但通常不用alternative◆We had no choice / option / alternative but to...我们别无选择，只有⋯◆If I had the choice / option, I would...如果让我选择，我会⋯◆She doesn't have much choice / option.她没有多少选择的余地。◆If I had the alternative, I would... ◆She doesn't have much alternative. ◆parental choice in education父母在教育方面的选择权◆The choice is yours.选择权在你。◆parental option/alternative in education ◆The option/alternative is yours. Things that you can choose are options, choices or alternatives. However, alternative is more frequently used to talk about choosing between two things rather than several. 表示可选择的事物用option、choice或alternative均可。不过，alternative较常指两项而非多项之间的选择。 ■ possibility [countable] one of the different things that you can do in a particular situation （某种情况下）可选择做的事◆I think we've exhausted all the possibilities.我想我们已经用尽了一切可能的手段。◆Selling the house is just one possibility that is open to us.卖掉房子只是我们可以选择的其中一种做法。◆The possibilities are endless.可想的办法是无穷的。ⓘ Possibility can be used in a similar way to option, choice and alternative, but the emphasis here is less on the need to make a choice, and more on what is available. * possibility的用法与option、choice和alternative相似，不过，其重点在于可供选择的内容而不是有作出选择的需要。 see also possible ⇨ possible 1 ■ the ˈbest bet■ your ˈbest bet■ a ˈgood bet■ a ˈsafe bet idiom (informal) the best action to take to get the result you want; something that is likely to succeed or be suitable 最好的办法；有望成功的事；合适的东西◆If you want to get around London fast, the Underground is your best bet.如果你想在伦敦快速地转一转，最好是乘地铁。◆Clothes are a safe bet as a present for a teenager.送礼物给十几岁的孩子，衣服是不错的选择。 OPP gamble ⇨ risk 2 potential noun potential ♦︎ prospects ♦︎ promise ♦︎ possibilitiesThese are all words for the possibility of sth happening or being developed or used successfully. 这些词均表示可能性、潜在性。PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS 句型和搭配◆potential / prospects / possibilities for sth◆sb / sth with potential / prospects / promise / possibilities◆real / great potential / prospects / promise / possibilities◆exciting / future potential / prospects / possibilities◆commercial / development / economic potential / prospects / possibilities◆to have potential / prospects / promise / possibilities◆to offer potential / prospects / possibilities◆to show potential / promise◆to fulfil sb / sth's potential / promise◆to assess / examine / consider / discuss / explore sb / sth's potential / prospects / possibilities■ potential / /pəˈtenʃl/ / [uncountable] the possibility of sth happening or being developed or used; qualities that exist in sb/sth and can be developed 可能性；潜在性；潜力◆It is clear that the potential for change is there.很明显存在发生变革的可能性。◆She has great potential as an artist.她极具艺术家的潜质。◆All children should be encouraged to realize their full potential.应当鼓励每一个孩子充分发挥自己的潜能。ⓘ People and things generally have/show potential when they have qualities that can be developed. When they use these qualities successfully, they fulfil, reach or realize their potential. * have/show potential一般指人或事物有进一步发展的潜力，fulfil、reach或realize与potential搭配表示发挥这些潜能。 see also potential ⇨ likely adj. ■ prospects [plural] the chances of being successful, especially in your career （尤指事业）成功的机会，前景，前途◆They want a reasonable salary and good career prospects.他们既希望得到合理的报酬，又希望在事业上有发展。◆At 25 he was an unemployed musician with no prospects.25岁的他是个没有工作、前途渺茫的乐师。◆What are the prospects of promotion in this job?做这份工作有多少晋升的机会？ see also prospective ⇨ likely adj. ■ promise [uncountable] a sign that sb/sth will be successful 将获成功的迹象◆Her work shows great promise.她的作品显示她大有前途。◆Their future was full of promise.他们前途无量。 see also promising ⇨ promising ■ possibilities [plural] qualities that exist in sth and can be developed 潜力◆The house is in a bad state of repair but it has possibilities.这所房子虽年久失修，但仍有价值。 see also possible ⇨ possible 1 NOTE 辨析 Potential or possibilities?People or things can have potential, but especially people; things, but not usually people, can have possibilities. * potential用于人或事物，尤其指人的潜力。possibility用于事物，通常不用于人。 |