likelihood

Meanings

1. 1nounsingular

   How probable it is that something will happen or be true.

   Grammar: Usually used with a: there is a strong likelihood of rain; often followed by of or that.

   Patterns

   • the likelihood of something
   • the likelihood that something will happen
   • in all likelihood

   There is a strong likelihood of snow tonight.

   The likelihood that she will accept the job is small.

   Exercise reduces the likelihood of heart disease.

2. 2noununcountabletechnicalmathematics

   In statistics, a measure of how well a particular set of assumptions explains the data that was actually observed.

   Grammar: Used as a technical term without an or the in many contexts: maximum likelihood.

   Patterns

   • likelihood of something given something

   The model with the highest likelihood was chosen.

   The students calculated the likelihood from the sample data.

   Maximum likelihood is a common method of estimating parameters.

Word forms

Common combinations

in all likelihood

In all likelihood, the meeting will be postponed.

a high likelihood

There is a high likelihood of delays on the roads.

increase the likelihood

Lack of sleep increases the likelihood of mistakes.

reduce the likelihood

Wearing a helmet reduces the likelihood of serious injury.

little likelihood

There is little likelihood that prices will fall.

Synonyms and how they differ

probability

Probability is more mathematical and can be given as a number, while likelihood is a looser everyday word.

chance

Chance is more informal and is often countable, as in 'a good chance', whereas likelihood sounds more formal.

prospect

Prospect looks forward to something expected, often welcome, while likelihood only measures how probable it is.

Opposites

Word family

likely adjective

probable

unlikely adjective

not probable

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “likelihood”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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