conceivably at the time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "conceivably at the time" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation or idea that could have been possible or imagined during a specific period. Example: "The decision to invest in the new technology seemed conceivably at the time to be a wise choice, given the market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

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Vice

If such a report were delayed because the significance of the microarray data wasn't understood at the time of testing, manufacturers could conceivably face retroactive fines and penalties.

Environmental Health Perspectives

"This is a blueprint that could conceivably enable terrorists to inexpensively create human pathogens," Congressman Dave Wheldon said at the time.

The New Yorker

At the time they were public officials, so they could conceivably fall within the Act's definition of corruption.

The Guardian - Opinion

Conceivably, Simpson's lawyers could argue that important information was not available to them at the time of this week's first hearing, said Los Angeles defense lawyer Barry Tarlow.

Los Angeles Times

Jails are where people go at conceivably the worst time in their lives.

The New Yorker

In other words, while the investigations could conceivably expand over time, in the beginning stages at least the lawyers who devised the policies would be off the hook.

Huffington Post

With this kind of rate and since it can send on multiple frequencies at once it could conceivably dispatch 20 HD movies at the same time.

MIT Technology Review

With this PPInt determination system one could conceivably study interactions of three proteins at the same time.

Nature

This is not, however, some cosmic variant of Schrödinger's cat, a quantum-physics thought experiment in which a cat in a chamber might conceivably be both dead and alive at the same time.

The New Yorker

So what might conceivably happen is that the Republican field focuses so strongly on Hillary at the very beginning of their primary race that they run out of ammo by the time the general election rolls around.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "conceivably at the time", ensure that the context clearly establishes the specific timeframe you are referencing. Avoid ambiguity by providing sufficient historical or situational details.

Common error

A common error is to use "conceivably at the time" without clearly defining the period in question. This can lead to confusion about what was plausible within the specific historical or situational context. Always ensure that the time frame is clearly established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "conceivably at the time" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the temporal context in which something was considered possible or plausible. It clarifies that the possibility was tied to a specific period.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

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Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Academia

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Encyclopedias

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Social Media

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "conceivably at the time" is an adverbial phrase used to indicate that something was possible or plausible within a specific historical or situational context. As identified by Ludwig AI, the phrase follows standard grammar rules, though examples of its use are currently missing. The phrase is most likely to appear in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the timeframe is clearly established to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "possibly at that moment" and "potentially back then".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

possibly at that moment

Replaces "conceivably" with "possibly" and "the time" with "that moment", emphasizing a chance occurrence during a specific point.

potentially back then

Substitutes "conceivably" with "potentially" and "at the time" with "back then", suggesting an unrealized possibility in the past.

imaginably during that era

Replaces "conceivably" with "imaginably" and "at the time" with "during that era", focusing on what could be envisioned within a historical period.

theoretically then

Uses "theoretically" instead of "conceivably", indicating a possibility based on theory at a past point.

hypothetically in those days

Replaces "conceivably" with "hypothetically" and "at the time" with "in those days", suggesting a situation considered for the sake of argument in the past.

plausibly at that juncture

Uses "plausibly" to replace "conceivably" and "at that juncture" instead of "at the time", suggesting a believable possibility at a particular point.

feasibly in that period

Replaces "conceivably" with "feasibly" and "at the time" with "in that period", suggesting a practical possibility within a defined timeframe.

possibly during those years

Substitutes "conceivably" with "possibly" and "at the time" with "during those years", focusing on a chance happening during a range of time.

arguably in that era

Replaces "conceivably" with "arguably" and "at the time" with "in that era", suggesting a debatable possibility during a specific period.

potentially at that stage

Replaces "conceivably" with "potentially" and "at the time" with "at that stage", indicating an undeveloped possibility during a particular moment.

FAQs

How can I use "conceivably at the time" in a sentence?

Use "conceivably at the time" to indicate that something was possible or imaginable during a specific period, even if it may not seem so now. For example: "The decision seemed "conceivably at the time" to be a good one, given the limited information available."

What's a good alternative to "conceivably at the time"?

Alternatives include "possibly at that moment", "potentially back then", or "imaginably during that era", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to specify the time when using "conceivably"?

While not always required, specifying the time period helps to provide context and clarity, particularly when discussing past events or decisions. Using a phrase like ""conceivably at the time"" makes the temporal context explicit.

How does "conceivably at the time" differ from "conceivably" alone?

Adding "at the time" emphasizes that the possibility or plausibility was specific to a particular point in the past. Without it, "conceivably" suggests a general possibility, not necessarily tied to a specific period.