What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Certainty vs Possibly - What's the difference?

certainty | possibly |

As a noun certainty

is the state of being certain.

As an adverb possibly is

Indicates that the proposition may be true (is not certainly false) regardless of any facts or circumstances known to, stated by or implied by the speaker.

certainty

English

Noun

  • The state of being certain.
  • * Fisher Ames
  • The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes.
  • An instance of being certain.
  • A fact or truth unquestionably established.
  • * November 2 2014 , Daniel Taylor, " Sergio Agüero strike wins derby for Manchester City against 10-man United," guardian.co.uk
  • Yet the truth is that City would probably have been coasting by that point if the referee, Michael Oliver, had not turned down three separate penalties, at least two of which could be accurately described as certainties .
  • * 1824 , (Walter Savage Landor), Imaginary Conversations Volume 1
  • Certainties are uninteresting and sating.

    Synonyms

    * (state of being certain) certitude

    Antonyms

    * (state of being certain) uncertainty

    possibly

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (modifying a clause or predicate)
  • Possibly , they will make gains in the midterm elections.
    It was possibly the costliest mistake in the organization's history.
    This rare and possibly unique specimen must be conserved.
  • (modifying a verb)
  • I'm much stronger than you, so you can't possibly win.
    I couldn't possibly be there on time.
    I couldn't possibly cheat on my wife.
    It seems unlikely, but, yes, they could possibly win even now.
    The police don't know him, and the information they have leads them to think he could possibly have murdered his wife.

    Synonyms

    * conceivably, maybe, perhaps, potentially

    Antonyms

    * impossibly * inevitably * certainly