I. like ‧ ly 1 S1 W1 /ˈlaɪkli/ BrE AmE 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 OPP 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
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adverbs
▪ 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.
■ verbs
▪ seem/appear/look likely
Which candidate seems likely to win?
■ nouns
▪ 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
II. likely 2 BrE AmE 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!’
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THESAURUS
▪ 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.
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Rod is probably going to study law.
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‘Is she lying?’ ‘Probably.’
▪ likely adjective probably going to happen or probably true:
The most likely result is a win for the Democrats.
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The price of petrol is likely to rise again this year.
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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.
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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.
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Take an umbrella. It might well rain later on.
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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.’
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I should think she’s about 24 or 25.