inconceivable
gb/ˌɪŋkənsˈivəbəl/ us/ˌɪŋkənsˈivəbəl/
C1
English
~ 9500
elképzelhetetlen
C1
1
Usage pattern:
it is inconceivable that [clause]
It is inconceivable that the company would risk its reputation in that way.
Elképzelhetetlen, hogy a vállalat így kockára tenné a hírnevét.
To many people at the time, landing on the moon was inconceivable.
Akkoriban sok ember számára elképzelhetetlen volt a Holdra szállás.
The idea of living without the internet now seems almost inconceivable.
Such a rapid change in the law would have been inconceivable a decade ago.
For her, the thought of betraying a friend was simply inconceivable.
Learner examples
It is inconceivable that he would lie to his best friend.
Elképzelhetetlen, hogy hazudna a legjobb barátjának.
Just fifty years ago, smartphones were inconceivable.
Ötven évvel ezelőtt az okostelefonok még elképzelhetetlenek voltak.
The team found it inconceivable that they had lost the game.
To my grandparents, online shopping was once inconceivable.
The teacher said it was inconceivable that no one had done the homework.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *inconceivable* for something that is only a little hard or complicated, where words like *difficult* or *hard to imagine* are better. *Inconceivable* is strong and suggests something is almost beyond belief. Another common mistake is using the wrong pattern, such as *"inconceivable of that he left"*; the natural patterns are *"it is inconceivable that he left"* or *"his leaving is inconceivable"*.
Meaning
impossible or almost impossible to imagine
Collocations
almost inconceivable
|it is inconceivable that
|seems inconceivable
|virtually inconceivable
|politically inconceivable
|previously inconceivable
Synonyms
unthinkable (Often slightly stronger and more emotional; commonly used for actions that would be morally wrong or shocking.)
|
unimaginable (Focuses more on the difficulty of forming a mental picture, often for very large, extreme, or unusual things.)
|
impossible (Broader and more general; can mean simply cannot happen, while "inconceivable" emphasizes not being able to believe or mentally accept it.)
Antonyms
conceivable (Direct logical opposite; something that can be imagined or believed as possible.)
|
plausible (Describes something that seems likely and believable, the opposite of being too unlikely to accept.)
Themes
opinions
|thinking
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Too strange, surprising, or unlikely to imagine or believe as real.
So unlikely, shocking, or strange that it cannot be realistically imagined or believed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
inconceivable
IPA
GB/ˌɪŋkənsˈivəbəl/
US/ˌɪŋkənsˈivəbəl/
Syllables & stress
in - con - ceiv - able (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ceiv)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: inconceivable
Word family
Core family
Related words
misconception
noun B2
misconceive
verb
Negative and opposite forms
inconceivably
adverb
Advanced or less common
conceivability
noun
inconceivability
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.