impossible
gb/ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/ us/ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/
A2
English
~ 1400
lehetetlen, elviselhetetlen, kibírhatatlan
A2
1
lehetetlen
A2
Usage pattern:
it is impossible to [do something]
It’s impossible to finish this report by tonight.
Lehetetlen ma estére befejezni ezt a jelentést.
Climbing that cliff without equipment is impossible.
Felszerelés nélkül lehetetlen megmászni azt a sziklafalat.
Finding a taxi at this hour is almost impossible.
It was impossible for her to hide her excitement.
Learner examples
It is impossible to lift this box alone.
Lehetetlen egyedül felemelni ezt a dobozt.
The test is impossible for me.
Ez a teszt nekem megoldhatatlan.
It is impossible to see the stars because of the clouds.
This puzzle is impossible to finish.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'impossible' with 'difficult'. 'Impossible' means there is no way to do it, while 'difficult' means it can be done but requires effort.
Meaning
Not able to be done
Collocations
virtually impossible
|seem impossible
|nearly impossible
|make it impossible
Synonyms
unachievable (Focuses on something that cannot be reached or accomplished.)
|
unattainable (Suggests something cannot be reached, often in a long-term or aspirational sense.)
Antonyms
possible (Direct opposite; something can be done or achieved.)
|
achievable (Emphasizes that a goal can be reached.)
Themes
daily life
|problem solving
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that cannot happen or be done.
Not able to be done, achieved, or occur.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is impossible to [deal with/work with]
My boss can be impossible when he’s stressed.
A főnököm elviselhetetlen tud lenni, amikor stresszes.
The kids were impossible after eating too much sugar.
A gyerekek elviselhetetlenek voltak, miután túl sok cukrot ettek.
She’s an impossible neighbor who complains about everything.
Learner examples
My little brother is impossible sometimes.
A kisöcsém néha elviselhetetlen.
The weather here is impossible in winter.
Itt télen elviselhetetlen az időjárás.
He is impossible when he is angry.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this still means 'cannot be done', but here it means 'very unpleasant or hard to deal with'. Context usually makes the difference clear.
Meaning
Very difficult or unpleasant
Collocations
impossible person
|impossible behavior
|impossible demands
Synonyms
unbearable (Emphasizes extreme discomfort or annoyance.)
|
insufferable (More formal and literary; suggests extreme difficulty in tolerating.)
Antonyms
agreeable (Describes someone pleasant and easy to get along with.)
|
manageable (Describes something that can be handled without excessive difficulty.)
Themes
relationships
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very hard or unpleasant to be around or handle.
Extremely difficult or unpleasant to deal with, especially describing a person or situation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
impossible
IPA
GB/ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/
US/ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/
Syllables & stress
im - possible (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (possible)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: impossible
Word family
Expressions
make the impossible possible
1/mˈeɪk ðə ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl pˈɑsəbəl/
fixed phrase
Achieve what seemed impossible
To do something people thought could not be done.
Examples
- The scientist made the impossible possible with her new invention.
- With teamwork, they made the impossible possible.
mission impossible
1/mˈɪʃən ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/
fixed phrase
informal
A task with almost no chance of success
A job or goal that is almost certain to fail.
Examples
- Getting him to change his mind is mission impossible.
- Cleaning this house in one hour is mission impossible.
nothing is impossible
1/nˈʌθɪŋ ˈɪz ɪmpˈɑsɪbəl/
fixed phrase
Everything can be done
You can do anything if you try hard enough.
Examples
- He believes that nothing is impossible if you work hard.
- They proved that nothing is impossible by climbing the mountain.