out of possibilities

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of possibilities" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe a situation when all available or conceivable options have been exhausted. For example: "We looked into all the possible solutions, but we ran out of possibilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

We're running out of possibilities.

The New York Times

She was running out of possibilities when, in the fall of 1951, she decided on a "crazy trip" and took a freighter to Brazil.

The New Yorker

As a sociologist, I am concerned about the volatility of a society where 80percentt of the people are frozen out of possibilities.

The New York Times - Arts

"We are running out of possibilities," one official said, "and so we are seeing more refined product being brought in from overseas.

The New York Times

It was a good start for a concert that insisted hip-hop hasn't run out of possibilities, even on this planet.

The New York Times - Arts

"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing," said Winston Churchill, "after they have exhausted all other possibilities". As we run out of possibilities, nationalization is looking more and more like the right thing.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

But expectation has now left the Dutch small and fragile and nearly out of possibility.

The New York Times - Sports

The prospect of responding the way Trump Jr. did is out of the realm of possibility, improbable, absurd.

The Washington Post

"I can't now have it as an out-of-sight, out-of-mind possibility, lurking.

Independent

Event durations of the order of minutes rule out the possibility of the signatures being associated with satellites.

Earth, Planets and Space

The performance of another one of its funds ruled out the possibility of wooing fresh investors.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of possibilities" when you want to convey that all potential options or solutions have been tried or considered, and none remain. It suggests a sense of finality and can be used to emphasize the urgency or severity of a situation.

Common error

Avoid using "out of possibilities" when there are still unexplored or less obvious solutions. Ensure you have genuinely exhausted all reasonable avenues before using this phrase to avoid premature conclusions or discouraging further investigation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of possibilities" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used as an adverbial modifier to describe the state of having exhausted all available options or solutions. It modifies verbs like "run", "be", or "seem", indicating a point where no further alternatives exist. Ludwig AI validates its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "out of possibilities" is a grammatically correct and relatively common phrase used to indicate the exhaustion of available options. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears primarily in News & Media and Science contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure its usage aligns with the actual scope of explored solutions. Alternatives like "exhausted all options" or "reached a dead end" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. Use it wisely to convey the urgency and finality of a situation when all avenues have truly been explored.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

run out of options

Similar to the original phrase, but uses "options" instead of "possibilities".

no more alternatives

States directly that there are no more alternatives available.

exhausted all options

Emphasizes the action of using up all available options.

devoid of options

Focuses on lacking any options at all, emphasizing the complete absence of alternatives.

reached a dead end

Indicates a situation where no further progress or solutions are apparent.

bereft of opportunities

Highlights the lack of opportunities, suggesting a state of deprivation.

all avenues explored

Emphasizes that every possible approach has been investigated.

at the end of the line

Uses a metaphorical expression indicating the final stage with no further progress possible.

exhausted all resources

Focuses on the depletion of available resources.

reached the limit

Indicates that a boundary or constraint has been reached.

FAQs

How can I use "out of possibilities" in a sentence?

You can use "out of possibilities" to indicate that all available options have been exhausted, as in "We're running "out of possibilities" and need to find a new approach."

What's the difference between "out of options" and "out of possibilities"?

While similar, "out of options" focuses on concrete choices, whereas "out of possibilities" can encompass more abstract or theoretical solutions. Both phrases suggest a lack of alternatives, but "possibilities" can have a broader scope.

What can I say instead of "out of possibilities"?

Alternatives include "exhausted all options", "no more alternatives", or "reached a dead end", depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "out of possibilities" in formal writing?

Yes, "out of possibilities" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider the specific context and whether a more precise or nuanced alternative might be more effective. For instance, in a scientific paper, "exhausted all hypotheses" might be more appropriate.