Possibility Collocation for IELTS - Advanced Vocabulary for Band 8+

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

6 min read

Updated On Oct 14, 2025

Unlock band 8+ advanced vocabulary with Possibility Collocation for IELTS and use appropriate words to discuss considering or rejecting a possibility and likely or unlikely possibility. Learn the meaning and example to elevate your IELTS preparation.

Possibility Collocation for IELTS - Advanced Vocabulary for Band 8+

List of Possibility Collocation for IELTS
Exercise on Possibility Collocation for IELTS

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Using Possibility Collocation for IELTS for the accurate expression of likelihood, probability, or possible outcomes is one of the main criteria for achieving a high band score. The term ‘possibility’ is quite flexible and can be used with verbs, adjectives, and prepositions in combinations that are both natural and accurate for the IELTS Exam. Learning these collocations such as strong possibility, realistic possibility, or leave the possibility open which would give you the skill of presenting ideas appropriately.

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List of Possibility Collocation for IELTS

In order to showcase an advanced level of IELTS Vocabulary, you have to indicate the likelihood of an event to happen or its unlikelihood as well. Whether you are considering an idea, rejecting a claim, or discussing how likely something is, knowing these collocations well would guide you to not only express your arguments and opinions but also with certainty. Let’s take a look at the different types of Possibility Collocation for IELTS for achieving a band 8+ in your exam.

Category	Collocation	Strategy	Example
Considering a possibility	explore the possibility	Use it for Writing Task 2 when proposing solutions or ideas.	The government should explore the possibility of using solar energy in rural areas.
	examine the possibility	This is formal which helps in an academic tone for essays.	Experts are examining the possibility of linking the two incidents.
	raise the possibility	New ideas or issues can be introduced by this phrase.	The report raises the possibility of climate change affecting agriculture.
	discuss the possibility	Frequently used in academic or business contexts.	The team met to discuss the possibility of expanding their project.
Rejecting Possibility	rule out the possibility	This can be used when indicating a decision made after careful thinking.	Doctors have ruled out the possibility of infection.
	dismiss the possibility	This has a formal and academic sound which is most appropriate in argumentative essays.	It would be unwise to dismiss the possibility of future outbreaks.
	eliminate the possibility	Best for discussing cause-and-effect relationships.	Security measures have eliminated the possibility of unauthorized access.
	deny the possibility	This is a powerful tool in the context of discussing denial or disagreement.	Officials denied the possibility of corruption within the system.
Likely or Unlikely Possibilities	strong possibility	Use it for very high likelihood or future prediction.	There is a very strong possibility that online learning will become the next new norm.
	distinct possibility	Use it for mixed or reasoning arguments.	The number of people working remotely has a distinct possibility of increasing in the future.
	remote possibility	Use it to state extremely unlikely or very rare outcomes.	It is a remote possibility that the law will be changed soon.
	slight possibility	Best for indicating very small chances or uncertainty.	There’s a slight possibility that the meeting will be delayed.
	every possibility	Use it to stress the strongest possibility or very high likelihood.	There is every possibility that education will be overpowered technologically.
	little possibility	Use it to express very low likelihood in a polite or academic way.	There is little possibility that both the teams will have an agreement today.

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Exercise on Possibility Collocation for IELTS

While trying to learn possibility collocation for IELTS, the next step is to test your knowledge by attempting various exercises. This will not only help you to memorize these words together with the phrases but also give you the power to use them correctly and gain fluency as well. Let’s start now!

EXERCISE 1. Choose the more natural collocations for ‘Verb + possibility’.

1 Keep trying. Don’t give up until you have _____________ every possibility. (explored / discovered)

2 Look, we’ve been investigating this case for almost two years now. I think we’ve_____________ all the possibilities. (tried / exhausted)

3 I’m afraid that we can’t give you an exact date for the completion of the building. We have to _____________ the possibility that bad weather may hold up progress. (allow for / prevail on)

4 This new breakthrough_____________ the possibility of finding a cure for MS. (raises / lifts)

5 We can’t_____________ the possibility that the child was swept out to sea by a huge wave. (forget / rule out)

6 Hundreds of police were present at the Cup Final to _____________ any possibility of a repetition of last year’s fighting between rival fans. (evade / avoid)

7 Let’s _____________ a few other possibilities before we book the hotel. We might find somewhere a bit more convenient. (examine / discover)

8 The conviction of John Faulkner _____________ the possibility that other crimes might be solved through the use of DNA evidence. (opens up / suggests)

EXERCISE 2. Mark the sentences C if they mean ‘considering the possibility’ and R if they mean ‘rejecting’:

1 They are examining the possibility of a complete five-year ban on fishing in the North Sea.

2 It’s not likely to happen but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility.

3 Have you decided how you’ll travel to the meeting? > No, I’m still considering the possibilities.

4 At this stage of our investigation we can’t exclude the possibility that he may have been murdered.

5 We are also looking at the possibility of converting the old school into a hotel.

6 Before the election the President refused to entertain the possibility of defeat.

EXERCISE 3. Mark the sentences below L if they are likely to happen and U If they are unlikely to happen:

1 I think we should postpone our trip to the seaside. There’s a strong possibility of rain this afternoon.

2 We need to do a number of further tests as there is a remote possibility that it could be cancerous.

3 Cloudy skies are forecast so there’s only a faint possibility that you will see the eclipse of the sun.

4 If sales of our products don’t improve soon, I’m afraid job losses remain a real possibility.

5 There’s a distinct possibility that I will be in London next week. Perhaps we can meet up.

EXERCISE 4. Complete the sentences below with the following common expressions:

every

various

any

one

endless

1 In order to clear your debts, you have a number of options open to you. Selling your car is just_____________ possibility.

2 Is there_____________ possibility of you giving me a lift to the station tomorrow night?

3 Have you decided what to do? => No, I’m still considering the_____________ possibilities.

4 The cottage is surrounded by huge areas of open countryside. There are _____________ possibilities for hill-walking and fishing.

5 There is_____________ possibility that we will be able to complete the work on time. We’re almost certain to meet the deadline.

Notes

1. Note this expression:

We might holiday in space one day – it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility.

2. If something ‘has possibilities’, it means it has potential:

The house is a bit run down, but it has possibilities.

3. Both ‘for’ and 'of' can be used after ‘possibility’:

There’s a possibility of snow.
The place has possibilities for development.

Answers for the Exercise on Possibility Collocation for IELTS

Well done! Let’s compare the answers with yours and see how well you have used the collocations and if you are using them properly. The whole process is beneficial for improving your accuracy, fluency, and ultimately you can get your desired IELTS Band Score.

EXERCISE 1.

1. explored	2. exhausted	3. allow for	4. raises
5. rule out	6. avoid	7. examine	8. opens up

EXERCISE 2.

1. C	2. R	3. C
4. R	5. C	6. R

EXERCISE 3.

EXERCISE 4.

one
any
various
endless
every

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By learning the appropriate phrases to discuss, deny, and evaluate possibilities, you can seamlessly apply these collocations in your IELTS responses. Possibility Collocation for IELTS would make you express certainty, doubt, and potential outcomes very precisely. In this way, you can apply the appropriate vocabulary words in real contexts while building confidence on the exam day.