Meaning & use
likely
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Probably true or probably going to happen, judging from what you know.
Grammar: Often followed by to: she is likely to win; or by that: it is likely that she will win.
Patterns
- likely to do something
- it is likely that something happens
- a likely outcome
It is likely to snow tonight.
The most likely explanation is a faulty wire.
She seems likely to get the job.
adjectivebefore a noun
Seeming suitable or promising for a purpose, often used about people or places.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: a likely candidate.
Patterns
- a likely candidate
- a likely spot
The coach picked a likely candidate for the team captain.
They found a likely spot for the picnic beside the river.
He asked several likely lads to help carry the crates.
adverbnot comparableAmerican
Probably, especially in American English.
Grammar: Usually after will or would, or preceded by very, most or quite: it will likely rain.
Patterns
- will likely do something
- most likely
We will likely arrive after dinner.
The store will most likely be closed on Sunday.
She'll very likely say no.
Word forms
| comparative | likelier |
|---|---|
| superlative | likeliest |
| comparative (alternative) | more likely |
| superlative (alternative) | most likely |
Common combinations
- most likely
- The package will most likely arrive on Friday.
- likely to happen
- A storm is likely to happen this weekend.
- quite likely
- It's quite likely that he forgot.
- highly likely
- A delay is highly likely given the weather.
- a likely story
- He said the dog ate his homework, a likely story!
Synonyms and how they differ
- probable
- Probable is a bit more formal than likely and cannot be used with the to pattern.
- plausible
- Plausible means believable, not necessarily likely to happen.
- expected
- Expected says people are anticipating it, whereas likely says the evidence suggests it.
- promising
- Promising means showing signs of future success, while likely only says something may happen.
Opposites
Word family
- likelihood noun
- the chance that something will happen
- unlikely adjective
- not probable
- likeliness noun
- a less common word for likelihood
- likelier adjective
- more probable
Commonly confused: likely or liable?
likely vs liable
Liable means legally responsible or prone to something undesirable, while likely only says something is probable.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
Likely takes the pattern likely to plus a verb. Probable does not take this pattern, and the other options are ungrammatical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “likely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.