impossible
impossible — adjective
1. When an action, event, or result is described as impossible, no person or method
When an action, event, or result is described as impossible, no person or method can make it happen, achieve it, or bring it about under any circumstances.
It is impossible for Bao to finish the report by five — he needs more data.
impossible for + person + to-infinitive
Greta found it impossible to sleep the night before her final exams.
found it impossible to do something
Asher's dream of becoming a pilot became impossible after he failed the medical check.
Without a reservation, getting a table at the popular restaurant is nearly impossible.
Felix considered it impossible to learn Japanese in just three months.
- not possible
a longer but more transparent phrase; common in spoken English
- out of the question
more informal and emphatic; suggests the idea is completely rejected
- unattainable
focuses on the goal being unreachable; narrower in scope
文法句型
it is impossible (for someone) to do something
something + linking verb + impossible
find/consider/think + something + impossible
用法筆記
Commonly appears in two main patterns: (1) 'it is impossible (for someone) to do something', where 'it' refers forward to the infinitive clause; and (2) with a linking verb ('seems', 'became', 'is') describing the subject directly. The second pattern cannot take a following infinitive without restructuring.
常見錯誤
2. When a situation, position, or task is so full of problems that handling it beco
When a situation, position, or task is so full of problems that handling it becomes nearly unbearable, we describe it as impossible.
The company faced an impossible situation when the manager and accountant quit on the same day.
impossible situation (collocation for dilemma contexts)
Madison faced an impossible position: keep her job or move abroad with her partner.
impossible position (forced-choice context)
Hamza faced an impossible choice: apologize for words he never said, or lose his best friend.
The rescue team faced an impossible task as the storm made the trail too dangerous to cross.
- manageable
something can be handled despite difficulty
- straightforward
something is simple and easy to deal with
文法句型
an impossible + noun (situation / position / task / choice)
make + something + impossible
用法筆記
This sense modifies nouns like 'situation', 'position', 'task', and 'choice'. It does not describe a person's character (see sense 3). Unlike sense 1, this meaning does not claim that something cannot be done at all — only that the difficulty is extreme.
常見錯誤
3. Used to describe a person whose behavior is so unreasonable, stubborn, or annoyi
Used to describe a person whose behavior is so unreasonable, stubborn, or annoying that it is nearly impossible for others to deal with or live alongside them.
Vivek's roommate is impossible — he leaves dirty dishes everywhere and never pays his bills.
person + is impossible (describing ongoing difficult behavior)
Bao's grandfather became impossible after his illness, refusing to take any medicine the doctor prescribed.
The teenager was being impossible about the curfew, arguing with her parents for two hours.
Lucía told her coworker he was being impossible and walked out of the meeting.
- unbearable
stronger; emphasizes that you cannot tolerate the person's behavior
- impossible to deal with
a slightly longer but less harsh alternative
- easygoing
someone who is relaxed and flexible
- reasonable
someone who listens to others and behaves sensibly
文法句型
someone + is + impossible
someone + is being + impossible
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this sense applies to people. Using 'is being impossible' (the progressive form) signals that the behavior is temporary, not a permanent personality trait. This sense is informal and should be avoided in formal or professional writing.
常見錯誤
impossible — noun
1. A thing or outcome that has no realistic chance of occurring or being brought ab
A thing or outcome that has no realistic chance of occurring or being brought about; used especially after verbs like 'do', 'achieve', or 'ask for' to stress how unlikely or unrealistic it is.
Christopher has a reputation in his research lab for regularly achieving the impossible.
achieving the impossible (noun phrase with definite article)
The manager asked for the impossible by demanding the bridge be ready in six weeks.
Eri believes nothing is impossible if you work hard and stay focused on your goal.
Do not ask me to do the impossible — I have only one assistant.
- impossibility
a more formal noun; 'That is an impossibility' sounds more academic than 'That's the impossible'
- pipe dream
informal; a plan or hope that is unrealistic
- possibility
something that can happen or be done
- sure thing
informal; something certain to happen
文法句型
the impossible
do / achieve / attempt / ask for the impossible
用法筆記
This noun use always takes the definite article 'the'. 'The impossible' refers to an abstract concept — a category of things that cannot be done. The expression 'nothing is impossible' is a common motivational phrase and uses 'impossible' as an adjective complement, but is included here for its similar meaning.