Word
imaginable
Phoneticsimag·in·able
US/ˌɪˈmædʒənəbəɫ/
UK/ɪmˈædʒɪnəbəl/
Definition
adj. possible to think of or imagine.
adj. capable of being imagined or conceived by the mind.
Examples
“The shop sells every imaginable flavor of ice cream.”
“The rescue team faced every imaginable difficulty, from freezing temperatures to broken equipment, yet they never gave up.”
“The architect utilized every imaginable resource to ensure the skyscraper could withstand the most severe seismic activity recorded in the region's history.”
Examples
simple
“The shop sells every imaginable flavor of ice cream.”
contextual
“The rescue team faced every imaginable difficulty, from freezing temperatures to broken equipment, yet they never gave up.”
complex
“The architect utilized every imaginable resource to ensure the skyscraper could withstand the most severe seismic activity recorded in the region's history.”
Usage
Often follows the noun it modifies, especially when used with superlatives like 'best', 'worst', or 'every'.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'imaginary'. Remind them that 'imaginable' means it *could* exist, while 'imaginary' means it is *not real*.
Pitfall
It was the most imaginable beautiful view.
It was the most beautiful view imaginable.
When using 'imaginable' to emphasize a superlative like 'most beautiful', it usually comes after the noun it describes.
Real-World Examples
“I attended the world's first AI safety summit in Bletchley Park in November 2023 where the focus was on the most serious threats imaginable, posed by the most powerful AI models.” “He had to be the most weird, confused, un-self-aware person imaginable, and I think an older British man is a good way of getting to that.” Etymology
From Middle English ymaginable, from Latin imāginābilis; equivalent to imagine + -able.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/imaginable