vorstellbare

Vorstellbare is the German adjective vorstellbar, meaning capable of being imagined or conceived. It describes ideas, scenarios, or possibilities that can be imagined or reasonably considered.

Etymology and form: Vorstellbar derives from vorstellen (to imagine, to present) with the adjectival suffix -bar, which marks ability or possibility. The related noun Vorstellung means idea or conception. In attributive position it follows standard German declension: der vorstellbare Plan, die vorstellbare Idee, das vorstellbare Risiko; die vorstellbaren Optionen. In predicative use it appears as “vorstellbar” in phrases like Es ist vorstellbar.

Usage: The term is common in formal and semi-formal contexts, including journalism, science, and policy discussions. It signals that a given possibility is plausible or worth considering, rather than merely hypothetical. Vorstellbar sits near synonyms such as denkbar, while its negation unvorstellbar denotes something that cannot be imagined.

Examples: Es ist vorstellbar, dass die Maßnahmen greifen könnten. Eine vorstellbare Lösung wäre eine verstärkte Zusammenarbeit. Die vorstellbaren Risiken wurden in der Sitzung eingehend bewertet.

See also: Denkbar, Unvorstellbar, Vorstellung.