UNLIKELY


Meaning of UNLIKELY in English

I. “+ adjective

( sometimes -er/-est )

Etymology: Middle English unlikli, from un- (I) + likli, adjective, likely — more at likely

1. : not likely : improbable , unbelievable

laughed at the … description of the unlikely animal — C.A.Nicholson

his nomination seemed an unlikely event

2. : not such as to inspire liking : disagreeable , objectionable , unattractive

fractured himself with … too little work and too many unlikely companions — Time

3. : seemingly lacking in any prospect of success : likely to fail : unpromising

a place full of good things, but it looked so unlikely at first glance — Maristan Chapman

discovers poetry in the most unlikely places — C.D.Lewis

II. adverb

Etymology: Middle English unlikli, from un- (I) + likli, adverb, likely — more at likely

: in an unlikely manner

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.