ever thought possible

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ever thought possible" is correct and can be used in written English.
You might use it to express something that was unexpected or surprising, like this example: The amount of progress she made with her recovery was more than I had ever thought possible.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It matters more than I ever thought possible".

The New York Times

medicine — more effective than we ever thought possible.

The New Yorker

It was a "never, ever thought possible" moment.

The Guardian

Diana was tougher than they'd ever thought possible.

The Guardian

"Beyond anything I would have ever thought possible".

The New Yorker

The result is a much more nuanced insight into antislavery activism than was ever thought possible.

The New York Times

But it has already lasted for far longer than the naysayers ever thought possible.

The Economist

Parkour will make you stronger, faster, fitter and more agile than you ever thought possible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The late Egon Ronay, meanwhile, bossed Britain's restaurants into aiming higher than they ever thought possible.

The Guardian - Books

"Maxie has enriched our lives more than we ever thought possible.

The New York Times

Occasionally a skeleton key is passed down that explains more than was ever thought possible.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ever thought possible" to express genuine surprise or disbelief, rather than as a mere figure of speech. Ensure the context clearly indicates why the outcome was unexpected.

Common error

Avoid using "ever thought possible" in situations where the outcome is reasonably predictable. Save it for truly surprising or exceptional circumstances to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ever thought possible" functions as an intensifier, emphasizing the degree to which something is surprising or exceeds expectations. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, and the numerous examples demonstrate its versatility in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Opinion

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ever thought possible" is a grammatically correct and versatile expression used to convey surprise or disbelief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, opinion pieces, and general writing. To maximize its impact, reserve it for situations that genuinely exceed expectations, and avoid overuse in predictable scenarios. Consider alternatives like "beyond wildest dreams" or "exceeded all expectations" for nuanced variations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceeded all expectations

Highlights that the actual outcome was better than what was anticipated.

surpassed all anticipations

Emphasizes that the outcome was greater than anything anticipated.

previously considered unimaginable

Highlights the initial perception of something as impossible to imagine.

more than I could have envisioned

Emphasizes the personal aspect of exceeding expectations.

defied all predictions

Implies that prior forecasts or estimates were proven wrong by the actual result.

ever deemed feasible

Focuses on feasibility rather than possibility, implying something was considered impractical but turned out to be achievable.

something I never contemplated

A personal acknowledgement of an outcome that was never considered.

beyond wildest dreams

Uses a more figurative expression to convey exceeding expectations.

never conceived of before

Stresses the novelty and originality of the concept or event.

unforeseen until now

Highlights that something was unexpected.

FAQs

How can I use "ever thought possible" in a sentence?

You can use "ever thought possible" to express surprise or disbelief about something, like: "The success of the project was more than we "ever thought possible"."

What are some alternatives to "ever thought possible"?

Alternatives include phrases like "beyond wildest dreams", "exceeded all expectations", or "previously considered unimaginable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "more than I ever thought possible"?

Yes, the phrase "more than I "ever thought possible"" is grammatically correct and commonly used to express that something has surpassed your expectations.

What's the difference between "ever thought possible" and "previously thought possible"?

"Ever thought possible" implies a general sense of surprise, while "previously thought possible" suggests that prior beliefs or assumptions have been overturned by new information or events.