Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [lahyk-lee]
- /ˈlaɪk li/
- /ˈlaɪkli/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [lahyk-lee]
- /ˈlaɪk li/
Definitions of likely word
- adjective likely probably or apparently destined (usually followed by an infinitive): something not likely to happen. 1
- adjective likely seeming like truth, fact, or certainty; reasonably to be believed or expected; believable: a likely story. 1
- adjective likely seeming to fulfill requirements or expectations; apparently suitable: a likely place for a restaurant. 1
- adjective likely showing promise of achievement or excellence; promising: a fine, likely young man. 1
- adverb likely probably: We will likely stay home this evening. 1
- noun likely Likely in the senses “probably destined” and “probably” is often preceded by a qualifying word like very, more, or quite: The board is very likely to turn down the request. The new system will quite likely increase profits. However, despite statements to the contrary in some usage guides, likely in these senses is standard without such a qualifier in all varieties of English: It will likely be a bitter debate. The shipment will likely arrive on Thursday. See also apt, liable. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of likely
First appearance:
before 1250 One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English likli < Old Norse līkligr. See like1, -ly
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Likely
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
likely popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
likely usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for likely
adj likely
- fair — free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge.
- inclined — deviating in direction from the horizontal or vertical; sloping.
- possible — that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc.: a disease with no possible cure.
- feasible — capable of being done, effected, or accomplished: a feasible plan.
- reasonable — agreeable to reason or sound judgment; logical: a reasonable choice for chairman.
adv likely
- presumably — by assuming reasonably; probably: Since he is a consistent winner, he is presumably a superior player.
- doubtless — without doubt; certainly; surely; unquestionably.
- doubtlessly — without doubt; certainly; surely; unquestionably.
- prima facie — at first appearance; at first view, before investigation.
- seemingly — apparent; appearing, whether truly or falsely, to be as specified: a seeming advantage.
adjective likely
- probable — likely to occur or prove true: He foresaw a probable business loss. He is the probable writer of the article.
- expected — Anticipated; thought to be about to arrive or occur.
- prospective — of or in the future: prospective earnings.
- in the offing — the more distant part of the sea seen from the shore, beyond the anchoring ground.
- apt — An apt remark, description, or choice is especially suitable.
verb likely
- tend — to attend by action, care, etc. (usually followed by to).
- make for — to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc.: to make a dress; to make a channel; to make a work of art.
- verge on — the edge, rim, or margin of something: the verge of a desert; to operate on the verge of fraud.
Antonyms for likely
adj likely
- unlikely — not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
- implausible — not plausible; not having the appearance of truth or credibility: an implausible alibi.
- inapt — not apt or fitting.
- unforeseeable — to have prescience of; to know in advance; foreknow.
- unreasonable — not reasonable or rational; acting at variance with or contrary to reason; not guided by reason or sound judgment; irrational: an unreasonable person.
adv likely
- improbably — not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen: Rain is improbable tonight.
Top questions with likely
- when are you most likely to get pregnant?
- how likely is it to get pregnant?
- how likely is it to get pregnant from precum?
- where are you likely to find a photoautotroph?
- in which setting would regional metamorphism be most likely?
- what would a network tree most likely be used for?
- where are volcanoes most likely to form?
- what is the most likely cause of algal blooms?
- how likely is an emp attack?
- what effect will a drop in price most likely have?
- what is the most likely explanation for how speciation occurs?
- rooted plants are most likely found in which aquatic zone?
- what latitudes are most likely to see glaciers?
- a stock split is most likely to occur when?
- which aquatic ecosystem is likely to be the warmest?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with l
- Words starting with li
- Words starting with lik
- Words starting with like
- Words starting with likel
- Words starting with likely