/ ˈprɒbəbl; NAmE ˈprɑːb-/ adjective , noun
■ adjective
likely to happen, to exist or to be true :
the probable cause / explanation / outcome
highly / quite / most probable
It is probable that the disease has a genetic element.
—compare improbable
■ noun
probable (for sth) ( especially BrE ) a person or an animal that is likely to win a race or to be chosen for a team
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense worthy of belief ): via Old French from Latin probabilis , from probare to test, demonstrate.