likely
adjectivenounadverbcommon in dialogue
- //ˈlaɪkli//
Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
adjective
- 1
Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
Rain is likely later this afternoon.
His parents — a restless, titanically self-involved father and a mother who cultivated her inner life in strict solitude — seem a much likelier source for his condition.
Still, Saints looked the likeliest to make the breakthrough, and it came when Jonny Evans could only half-clear a long ball and Chaplow took full advantage.
- 2
Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable.
Do you think there's likely to be snow?
He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages - with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.
People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?
- 3
Appropriate, suitable; believable; promising, having a good potential.
Jones is a likely candidate for management.
The relationship with social status is a likely topic for investigation.
- 4
Plausible; within the realm of credibility.
not a very likely excuse.
The DPRK propagated an extraordinary tale of his birth occurring on Mount Baekdu, one of Korea's most revered sites, being accompanied by shooting stars in the sky. It is more likely that he was born in a small village in the USSR, while his father was serving as a Soviet-backed general during the second world war.
- 5
Leading with high probability to some specified outcome.
a likely recipe for disaster.
- 6
archaicAttractive; pleasant.
I found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
- 7
obsoleteSimilar; like; alike.
For love is a celestiall harmonie Of likely harts composed of starres concent
Etymology
From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċ (“suitable”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”) (probably independent formations), equivalent to like + -ly (adjectival suffix).
noun
- 1
Something or somebody considered likely.
adverb
- 1
Probably.
Likely he’ll win the election in this economy.
He’ll likely win the election in this economy.
He likely will win the election in this economy.
Most likely he’ll win the election in this economy.
- 2
obsoleteSimilarly.
Etymology
From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċe (“equally”) and Old Norse líkliga, glíkliga (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *līkalīka, equivalent to like + -ly (adverbial suffix).
Forms
- plural
- likelies
- comparative
- more likely, likelier
- superlative
- most likely, likeliest
likely · Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
Likely · A surname.likeness · The state or quality of being like or alike.likewise · In a similar manner.