# impossible

/ˌɪmˈpɑsəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɪmpˈɒsəbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/impossible
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. not possible

adjective · CEFR A2

something that cannot happen or be done because it is not possible.

For teachers: incapable of occurring, being done, or being true; logically or physically unattainable.

- It is impossible to be in two places at the same time.
- The rescue mission was deemed impossible due to the severe weather conditions and the lack of specialized equipment available at the site.

### 2. difficult to deal with

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

very annoying or difficult to handle.

For teachers: extremely difficult to deal with, manage, or tolerate. Often used to describe people or social situations.

- My boss is being impossible today and won't listen to any of my ideas.
- The client made such impossible demands during the negotiation that the legal team advised walking away from the deal entirely.

### 3. something that cannot be done

noun · CEFR B2

a thing that is not possible.

For teachers: an occurrence or task that is impossible; often used in the phrase 'to do the impossible'.

- The team did the impossible and won the game in the final minute.
- In the realm of theoretical physics, what was once considered an impossible is now being re-evaluated through new mathematical models.

### 4. skateboard trick

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Slang

a trick where the skateboard does a backflip around the rider's foot.

For teachers: a skateboarding maneuver in which the board is wrapped around the back foot in a vertical 360-degree rotation.

- He landed a perfect impossible off the stairs at the park.
- Mastering the impossible requires precise foot placement and a high degree of vertical pop to ensure the board clears the ground during the wrap.

## Examples

- It is impossible to walk on water.
- The team faced an impossible deadline, but they managed to finish the project by working through the night.
- While the task seemed mathematically impossible at first glance, the engineers found a creative workaround that bypassed the physical limitations of the old hardware.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.