like·ly (l k l )adj. like·li·er, like·li·est 1. Possessing or displaying the qualities or characteristics that make something probable: They are likely to become angry with him. 2. Within the realm of credibility; plausible: not a very likely excuse. 3. Apparently appropriate or suitable: There were several likely candidates for the job. 4. Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome; promising: a likely topic for investigation. 5. Attractive; pleasant: found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic. adv. Usage Problem Probably. [Middle English likly, from Old English gel clc (from gelc, similar) and from Old Norse lkligr (from lkr, similar); see lk- in Indo-European roots.]Usage Note: Used as an adverb likely is most commonly preceded by a modifier such as very or quite: He will quite likely require some help with his classes. But the unmodified use of likely is common enough in educated writing, and though it might be better avoided in highly formal style, it should not be regarded as incorrect: They'll likely buy a new car this year. See Usage Note at liable. |
likely [ˈlaɪklɪ]
adj
1. (usually foll by an infinitive) tending or inclined; apt likely to rain
2. probable a likely result
3. believable or feasible; plausible
4. appropriate for a purpose or activity
5. having good possibilities of success a likely candidate
6. Dialect chiefly US attractive, agreeable, or enjoyable her likely ways won her many friends
adv
1. probably or presumably
as likely as not very probably
[from Old Norse līkligr]
Usage: Likely as an adverb is preceded by another, intensifying adverb, as in it will very likely rain or it will most likely rain. Its use without an intensifier, as in it will likely rain is regarded as unacceptable by most users of British English, though it is common in colloquial US English
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Adj. | 1. | likely - has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job" possible - capable of happening or existing; "a breakthrough may be possible next year"; "anything is possible"; "warned of possible consequences" unlikely - has little chance of being the case or coming about; "an unlikely story"; "an unlikely candidate for reelection"; "a butcher is unlikely to preach vegetarianism" |
| 2. | likely - likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss" | |
| 3. | likely - expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients" prospective - of or concerned with or related to the future; "prospective earnings"; "a prospective mother"; "a prospective bride"; "the statute is solely prospective in operation" | |
| 4. | likely - within the realm of credibility; "not a very likely excuse" believable, credible - capable of being believed; "completely credible testimony"; "credible information" | |
| Adv. | 1. | likely - with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war" |
likely
adjective
1. inclined, disposed, prone, liable, tending, apt People are more likely to accept change if they understand it.
2. probable, expected, anticipated, odds-on, on the cards, to be expected A 'yes' vote is the likely outcome.
3. plausible, possible, reasonable, credible, feasible, believable, verisimilar It's likely that he still loves her.
4. appropriate, promising, pleasing, fit, fair, favourite, qualified, suitable, acceptable, proper, hopeful, agreeable, up-and-coming, befitting He seemed a likely candidate to becoming Prime Minister.
adverb
probably, no doubt, presumably, in all probability, like enough (informal), doubtlessly, like as not (informal) Very likely he'd told them of his business interest.
Translations
likely [ˈlaɪklɪ]
A. ADJ (likelier (compar) (likeliest (superl)))
1. (= probable) [outcome, consequences] → probable
what kind of changes are likely? → ¿qué tipo de cambios son probables?
snow is likely on high ground → es probable que nieve en zonas altas
it is likely that → es probable que + subjun
it is likely to rain later on → es probable que llueva más tarde
they are not likely to come → no es probable que vengan
he's likely to do anything → puede hacer cualquier cosa
he's the man most likely to win → es el que más probabilidades tiene de ganar
a likely story or tale! (iro) → ¡menudo cuento!, ¡y yo que me lo creo!(iro)
what kind of changes are likely? → ¿qué tipo de cambios son probables?
snow is likely on high ground → es probable que nieve en zonas altas
it is likely that → es probable que + subjun
it is likely to rain later on → es probable que llueva más tarde
they are not likely to come → no es probable que vengan
he's likely to do anything → puede hacer cualquier cosa
he's the man most likely to win → es el que más probabilidades tiene de ganar
a likely story or tale! (iro) → ¡menudo cuento!, ¡y yo que me lo creo!(iro)
B. ADV (= probably) she will very or most likely arrive late → lo más probable es que llegue tarde
some prisoners will likely be released soon (US) → es probable que pronto se deje en libertad a algunos prisioneros
(as) likely as not he'll arrive early → lo más probable es que llegue pronto, seguramente llegará pronto
this is more than likely true → lo más probable or seguro es que sea cierto
"I expect she'll be re-elected" - "yes, more than likely" → -me imagino que la volverán a elegir -si, seguramente
not likely! → ¡ni hablar!
some prisoners will likely be released soon (US) → es probable que pronto se deje en libertad a algunos prisioneros
(as) likely as not he'll arrive early → lo más probable es que llegue pronto, seguramente llegará pronto
this is more than likely true → lo más probable or seguro es que sea cierto
"I expect she'll be re-elected" - "yes, more than likely" → -me imagino que la volverán a elegir -si, seguramente
not likely! → ¡ni hablar!
likely [ˈlaɪkli] adj
[result, outcome, scenario, impact] → probable
That's not very likely → C'est peu probable.
to be likely to do sth
She's likely to come → Elle viendra probablement.
He's likely to leave → Il va probablement partir.
He is likely to resign → Il va probablement démissionner.
They are now much more likely to accept the change → Ils sont maintenant bien plus à même d'accepter le changement.
She's not likely to come → Elle ne viendra probablement pas.
it is likely that ... → il est probable que ...
it appears likely that ... → il apparaît probable que ...
That's not very likely → C'est peu probable.
to be likely to do sth
She's likely to come → Elle viendra probablement.
He's likely to leave → Il va probablement partir.
He is likely to resign → Il va probablement démissionner.
They are now much more likely to accept the change → Ils sont maintenant bien plus à même d'accepter le changement.
She's not likely to come → Elle ne viendra probablement pas.
it is likely that ... → il est probable que ...
it appears likely that ... → il apparaît probable que ...
[excuse, explanation] → plausible
likely
adj (+er)
(= probable) → wahrscheinlich; he is not likely to come → es ist unwahrscheinlich, dass er kommt; they are likely to accept/refuse → sie werden wahrscheinlich zusagen/ablehnen; she is hardly likely to come now → sie wird jetzt kaum kommen; is it likely that I would do that? → trauen Sie mir das zu?; the plan most likely to succeed → der erfolgversprechendste Plan; an incident likely to cause trouble → ein Zwischenfall, der möglicherweise Ärger nach sich zieht; a likely explanation → eine mögliche or wahrscheinliche Erklärung; (iro) → wers glaubt, wird selig! (inf); this is a likely place for him to stay → es ist gut möglich, dass er sich hier aufhält; a likely story or tale! (iro) → das soll mal einer glauben!
(inf: = suitable) → geeignet; a likely spot for a picnic → ein geeignetes or prima (inf) → Plätzchen für ein Picknick; he is a likely person for the job → er kommt für die Stelle infrage or in Frage; likely candidates → aussichtsreiche Kandidaten; a likely(-looking) lad → ein vielversprechender junger Mann; a likely-looking target → ein geeignetes Ziel
adv → wahrscheinlich; as likely as not → höchstwahrscheinlich; very likely they’ve lost it → höchstwahrscheinlich haben sie es verloren; they’ll likely be late (dial) → sie kommen wahrscheinlich zu spät; it’s more likely to be early than late → es wird eher früh als spät werden; not likely! (inf iro) → wohl kaum (inf)
likely [ˈlaɪklɪ]
likely [ˈlaɪklɪ]
1. adj (-ier (comp) (-iest (superl))) (outcome, winner) → probabile; (place) → adatto/a, buono/a; (story, explanation) → plausibile
a likely explanation → una spiegazione attendibile or plausibile
a likely story! (iro) → ma a chi la racconti?, e io dovrei crederci?
when is the likeliest time to find you at home? → quando è più probabile trovarti a casa?
it's likely that I'll be late → molto probabilmente sarò in ritardo
an incident likely to cause trouble → un incidente che probabilmente causerà dei problemi
it's not likely that he'll come, he is not likely to come → è difficile che venga
he's likely to leave → è probabile che parta, probabilmente partirà
a likely explanation → una spiegazione attendibile or plausibile
a likely story! (iro) → ma a chi la racconti?, e io dovrei crederci?
when is the likeliest time to find you at home? → quando è più probabile trovarti a casa?
it's likely that I'll be late → molto probabilmente sarò in ritardo
an incident likely to cause trouble → un incidente che probabilmente causerà dei problemi
it's not likely that he'll come, he is not likely to come → è difficile che venga
he's likely to leave → è probabile che parta, probabilmente partirà
2. adv → probabilmente
most or very likely they've lost it → con molta probabilità or molto probabilmente l'hanno perso
not likely! (fam) → neanche per sogno!
most or very likely they've lost it → con molta probabilità or molto probabilmente l'hanno perso
not likely! (fam) → neanche per sogno!
likely [ˈlaɪklɪ]
1. adj (-ier (comp) (-iest (superl))) (outcome, winner) → probabile; (place) → adatto/a, buono/a; (story, explanation) → plausibile
a likely explanation → una spiegazione attendibile or plausibile
a likely story! (iro) → ma a chi la racconti?, e io dovrei crederci?
when is the likeliest time to find you at home? → quando è più probabile trovarti a casa?
it's likely that I'll be late → molto probabilmente sarò in ritardo
an incident likely to cause trouble → un incidente che probabilmente causerà dei problemi
it's not likely that he'll come, he is not likely to come → è difficile che venga
he's likely to leave → è probabile che parta, probabilmente partirà
a likely explanation → una spiegazione attendibile or plausibile
a likely story! (iro) → ma a chi la racconti?, e io dovrei crederci?
when is the likeliest time to find you at home? → quando è più probabile trovarti a casa?
it's likely that I'll be late → molto probabilmente sarò in ritardo
an incident likely to cause trouble → un incidente che probabilmente causerà dei problemi
it's not likely that he'll come, he is not likely to come → è difficile che venga
he's likely to leave → è probabile che parta, probabilmente partirà
2. adv → probabilmente
most or very likely they've lost it → con molta probabilità or molto probabilmente l'hanno perso
not likely! (fam) → neanche per sogno!
most or very likely they've lost it → con molta probabilità or molto probabilmente l'hanno perso
not likely! (fam) → neanche per sogno!
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|