likely
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- inclined, apt, disposed, liable, prone, tending
- probable, anticipated, expected, odds-on, on the cards, to be expected
- plausible, believable, credible, feasible, possible, reasonable
- promising, hopeful, up-and-coming

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Antonyms: unlikely
Contrasted words: problematic, certain, inevitable, necessary

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English Thesaurus: probably, likely, it looks as if/it looks like, may/could/might well, I would/should think, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. like‧ly¹ S1 W1 /ˈlaɪkli/ adjective (comparative likelier, superlative likeliest)
[Word Family: noun: likelihood; adverb: likely; adjective: likely ≠ unlikely]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old Norse; Origin: glikligr, from glikr 'like']

1. something that is likely will probably happen or is probably true Antonym : unlikely:
Snow showers are likely tomorrow.
likely outcome/effects/consequences etc
What are the likely effects of the law going to be?
the most likely cause of the problem
likely to do/be something
Children who live in the country’s rural areas are very likely to be poor.
more/less/most/least likely
Young drivers are far more likely to have accidents than older drivers.
It is more than likely (=almost certain) the votes will have to be counted again.
It could have been an accident, but that was hardly likely (=not very likely).
He could offer no likely explanation when I asked him.

2. [only before noun] suitable for a particular purpose:
the three most likely candidates for president
One likely source of energy is wind power.

3. a likely story spoken used to tell someone you do not believe what they have just said

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. likely² adverb
[Word Family: noun: likelihood; adverb: likely; adjective: likely ≠ unlikely]

1. probably
most/very likely
I’d very likely have done the same thing in your situation.
(as) likely as not spoken (=very probably)
As likely as not, the meeting will take place in the village pub.

2. not likely! spoken especially British English used to disagree strongly, or to say that something will not happen:
‘He said you’d be giving them a lift.’ ‘Not likely!’

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

likely
adj.
VERBS appear, be, look, seem
ADV. extremely, highly, very It is highly likely that the factory will have to close.
hardly They're hardly likely to get home before ten.
quite

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

likely

very/highly/extremely likely
It did not seem very likely that he was still alive.
more/most likely
At this age, boys were more likely than girls to be active in sports.
quite likely British English (=very likely)
As parents, if we expect bad behaviour we are quite likely to get it.
less/least likely
The smallest puppies are the least likely to survive.
hardly likely (=not very likely)
It seems hardly likely that she would tell her husband about it.
more than likely (=very likely)
She'll be late, more than likely.
increasingly likely
The project looked increasingly likely to fail.
seem/appear/look likely
Which candidate seems likely to win?
a likely explanation
What is the most likely explanation for the way she acted?
a likely result/outcome
the most likely outcome of the election
a likely effect/consequence
Consider the options open to you, and their likely consequences.
the likely impact (=the likely effect or influence of something)
What is the likely impact of the new factory on the local environment?
a likely cause/reason
the likely cause of the accident

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

probably adverb used when saying that you think something is true or will happen, although it is not completely definite:
He’s probably gone home.
Rod is probably going to study law.
‘Is she lying?’ ‘Probably.’
likely adjective probably going to happen or probably true:
The most likely result is a win for the Democrats.
The price of petrol is likely to rise again this year.
It is likely that we’ll lose.
it looks as if/it looks like used when saying that the present situation makes you think that something will probably happen or is probably true:
It looks like Greg has been delayed.
There aren’t any taxis, so it looks as if we’ll have to walk.
may/could/might well used when saying that you think something will probably happen or is probably true:
He may well come back.
Take an umbrella. It might well rain later on.
It may well be his last game.
I would/should think spoken (also I would guess spoken) used when saying that you think something will probably happen or is probably true, although you are not sure:
‘Will the match still go ahead?' ’Yes, I would think so.’
I should think she’s about 24 or 25.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲