endless possiblities (Photo credit: PinkMoose)
Possiblities
Endless possibilities
Possibilities
Sometime when I write a haiku I cannot break some words down into syllables. I think possibilities is five syllables—what do you think? Okay, some of you are going to tell me to check it out in the dictionary. So I will.
Be back in a moment……………
Okay, so it is five syllables. And it is also defined as “the potential for successful future development”. That is what I was going for.
Its cousins (or synonyms if you will) are: options, likelihood, opportunities, prospects, risks, odds, chances, and probabilities. But probability is not at all what I was going for—if something is probable it might happen or might not; possibilities seem more open and likely to happen.
What do you think? Do you like the word possibility or probability?
On the Homefront 
As an English teacher, I never thought of words having ‘cousins’ as opposed to synonyms. Good idea.
AV
Thank you!
Probable sounds possible ?
Quite possibly
Ooooh, I like possibilities much better because they are endless :). Like, what book should I read today while I sit on my butt on holidays – hmmm, the possibilities are endless.
you deserve a few days just to read and relax
Thank you 🙂
wish I could join you–I can be quiet as a mouse
Come on over 🙂
Sometimes one has prossibilities; a combination of the probable and the possible. 🙂
I like new words!
Love possibilities, probabilities not so much. Probably because it reminds me of probability in math and that was one of the only subjects I ever failed at (the other being physics).
I was no good at math or sciences–though I liked science and math when I could understand it–which stopped about grade 10
“Probability” sounds clinical to me, and too self-assured, as though one presumes to know the probable outcome.
“Possibility” is where the magic is, LouAnn… anything goes, it’s on a whim, it’s in the wind… you know? Much better word, in my opinion. I live for the possibilities (even as I sometimes deal with the probabilities, which I tend to ignore!). Great fun, Amy
I love your definitiions–that is exactly how I feel–possibilities are magical
I like ‘possibility’ as it allows for change… Probability is projecting the outcome …?? .. Diane
I agree–possiblitiy is more open
Possibility–I don’t like being pinned down.
did not think of it that way-but yes, I agree wholeheartedly–have always been like this
I love the Haiku, LouAnn!
thanks Cathy
Possibility. I think that word is juicy. It’s a wide open word… Probability is a little bit more closed down, isn’t it?
that is my take on it too — we are usually on the same page aren’t we Kathy?
We are indeed!