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ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Likely

/ˈlaɪkli/ · adjective

Meaning

Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring..

Definitions by Sense

  1. Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
  2. (as predicate, followed by to and infinitive) Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable.
  3. Appropriate, suitable; believable; promising, having a good potential.
  4. Plausible; within the realm of credibility.
  5. Leading with high probability to some specified outcome.
  6. (archaic) Attractive; pleasant.
  7. (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
  8. Something or somebody considered likely.

Example Sentences

Rain is likely later this afternoon.
His parents — a restless, titanically self-involved father and a mother who cultivated her inner life in strict solitude — seem a much likelier source for his condition.
Still, Saints looked the likeliest to make the breakthrough, and it came when Jonny Evans could only half-clear a long ball and Chaplow took full advantage.
Do you think there's likely to be snow?
He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages - with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.
People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?
As Trevor Corson, author of “The Story of Sushi” explains, in Japan, sushi is typically eaten at a bar, where it’s customary for the customer to chat with the chef, who can recommend what’s in season. The short window during which the fish is fresh also makes it more likely to be tastier in Japan.

Synonyms for likely

liablesee synonyms at probablyprospectiveplausiblepotentialpromisingprobablecrediblebelikeexpectedpresumptiveprobablyverisimilarbelievablein all probabilityequiprobablein all likelihood

Antonyms for likely

improbableunlikely

Related Words

in all probabilityprobablyprobableprospectiveplausiblepresumedpresumptivepromisingverisimilarcrediblepotentialbelievableexpectedaptbelikeliableequiprobablein all likelihoodprobabilitypossible

Word Forms

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does likely mean?

Likely means Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring..

What is a synonym for likely?

Common synonyms include liable, see synonyms at probably, prospective, plausible.

What is the opposite of likely?

Possible antonyms include improbable, unlikely.

How do you use likely in a sentence?

Rain is likely later this afternoon.

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.