Meaning & use
high likelihood
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Meanings
phrasecountableformal
a strong chance that something will happen or be true
Grammar: Usually used with 'a' or 'the': a high likelihood of something, or a high likelihood that something happens.
Patterns
- a high likelihood of something
- a high likelihood that ...
- there is a high likelihood of something
There is a high likelihood of rain this evening, so take an umbrella.
The study found a high likelihood that the treatment would work.
A high likelihood of success made the project worth funding.
phrasefixed phraseformal
used after 'of' to mean that something is very probable
Grammar: Common in the pattern 'in the high likelihood of something' or 'given the high likelihood of something'.
Patterns
- in the high likelihood of something
- given the high likelihood of something
Given the high likelihood of delays, we left early.
In the high likelihood of a tie, the rules were changed.
Common combinations
- a high likelihood of success
- The team reported a high likelihood of success.
- a high likelihood that
- There is a high likelihood that prices will rise.
- a very high likelihood
- There is a very high likelihood of flooding in the area.
- increase the likelihood
- Regular exercise can increase the likelihood of a long life.
Synonyms and how they differ
- strong possibility
- Very close in meaning, but 'possibility' can suggest something is only possible, while 'likelihood' stresses probability.
- good chance
- Informal and more common in speech; 'high likelihood' sounds formal and is typical of reports.
- probability
- A more technical word often used with numbers; 'high likelihood' is a general judgment, not a calculated figure.
Opposites
Word family
- likely adjective
- Probable; something that is likely is expected to happen.
- likelihood noun
- The chance that something will happen.
- unlikely adjective
- Not probable; not expected to happen.
Commonly confused: high likelihood or high probability?
high likelihood vs high probability
Very similar, but 'probability' is more technical and is often used with numbers, as in 'a high probability of 0.8'.
Practice
There is a high likelihood ______ storms tonight.
Choose one answer.
The fixed pattern is 'a high likelihood of something'. 'For', 'to', and 'with' do not follow 'likelihood' in this structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “high likelihood”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.