Meaning & use
most likely
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
Almost certainly; used to say that something is very probable though not definite.
Grammar: Goes before the verb or at the start of a clause: she will most likely arrive late.
Patterns
- will most likely do something
It will most likely rain this afternoon.
She will most likely accept the job offer.
The package most likely arrived while we were out.
adjectivebefore a noun
Having the best chance of happening or being true compared with other possibilities.
Grammar: Often used before a noun: the most likely cause.
Patterns
- the most likely explanation
The most likely cause of the fire was faulty wiring.
Which team is the most likely winner?
That is the most likely explanation.
Common combinations
- most likely scenario
- The most likely scenario is a small rise in prices.
- most likely cause
- Stress is the most likely cause of her headaches.
- most likely to succeed
- He was voted the student most likely to succeed.
- most likely outcome
- The most likely outcome is a draw.
- most likely reason
- The most likely reason for the delay is traffic.
Synonyms and how they differ
- probably
- It is the everyday form and sounds slightly less certain than most likely.
- in all likelihood
- It is more formal and slightly more emphatic.
- presumably
- It suggests guessing from what you know, rather than estimating odds.
- almost certainly
- It expresses greater confidence than most likely.
Opposites
Word family
- likely adjective
- probable
- likelihood noun
- the chance that something will happen
- unlikely adjective
- not probable
Commonly confused: most likely or mostly?
most likely vs mostly
Mostly means mainly or in most cases, as in the crowd was mostly young. Most likely talks about probability.
Practice
The forecast says it will ______ snow overnight, but nothing is certain. Which choice fits?
Choose one answer.
Most likely expresses high probability. Mostly means mainly, and the other options do not fit before the verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “most likely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.