likely
English · Thesaurus
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likely¹
- /ˈlaɪkli/
Rhymes with -aɪkli
Where it comes from
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).
adjective more likely · likelier · most likely · likeliest
- Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring. Rain is likely later this afternoon.
- Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable. Do you think there's likely to be snow?
- Appropriate, suitable; believable; promising, having a good potential. Jones is a likely candidate for management.
- Plausible; within the realm of credibility. not a very likely excuse.
- Leading with high probability to some specified outcome. a likely recipe for disaster.
- Attractive; pleasant. I found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
- Similar; like; alike. For love is a celestiall harmonie Of likely harts composed of starres concent
noun likelies
- Something or somebody considered likely.
likely²
- /ˈlaɪkli/
Rhymes with -aɪkli
Where it comes from
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).
adverb more likely · likelier · most likely · likeliest
-
Probably.
Likely he’ll win the election in this economy.
Similar: see synonyms at probably
- Similarly.
Likely³
proper noun Likelys
- A surname.
- A census-designated place in Modoc County, California, United States.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: probably, probable, prospective, plausible, presumed, presumptive, promising, verisimilar, credible, potential, believable, expected, apt, belike, liable, equiprobable
Translations
Every language
adj suitable; apparently appropriate or suitable
| Italiano | adatto |
|---|
adj probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
| Español | probable |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | きっと kitto, おそらく osoraku |
| हिन्दी | प्रायिक prāyik, संभावित sambhāvit |
| Português | provável |
| Français | probable |
| Deutsch | wahrscheinlich |
| Italiano | probabile |
| Русский | вероя́тный verojátnyj, возмо́жный vozmóžnyj |
| العربية | عَلَى الأَغْلَبِ ʕalā l-ʔaḡlabi |
adj displaying the qualities or characteristics that make something probable
| Italiano | adatto |
|---|
adj appropriate; believable; having a good potential
| Italiano | promettente |
|---|---|
| Русский | го́дный gódnyj, подходя́щий podxodjáščij, приго́дный prigódnyj |
adj promising; apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome
| Italiano | promettente |
|---|---|
| Русский | многообеща́ющий mnogoobeščájuščij, подающий надежды podajuščij nadeždy, перспекти́вный perspektívnyj |
adj plausible; within the realm of credibility
| Español | creíble |
|---|---|
| Português | verossímel, verossímil |
| Deutsch | wahrscheinlich, glaubhaft, plausibel |
| Italiano | verosimile |
adj attractive; pleasant
| Italiano | piacevole |
|---|---|
| Русский | привлека́тельный privlekátelʹnyj, очарова́тельный očarovátelʹnyj, обаятельный obajatelʹnyj |
Talk about this word "likely." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/likely. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. likely. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/likely "likely." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/likely.Cite this
@misc{likely_2026,
title = {likely},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/likely},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
