adj.
Pronunciation: ' prä-b ə -b ə l, ' prä(b)-b ə l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin probabilis commendable, probable, from probare to test, approve, prove ― more at PROVE
Date: 1606
1 : supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof <a probable hypothesis>
2 : establishing a probability < probable evidence>
3 : likely to be or become true or real < probable events>