unlikely
487
1.9
- adjective
- /ʌnˈlaɪkli/
:
improbable
- The U.S. economy is unlikely to recover fully until the banking system is restructured.
- very unlikely
- highly unlikely
- unlikely to happen
Thus, everything is becoming uncertain, unlikely and ambiguous.
- Thus, everything is becoming uncertain, unlikely and ambiguous.
- Long story short, they didn't, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon.
- Your questions are unlikely to be heard.
- One, their youth, it's just unlikely they're the most talented people.
- If it's just incremental, it's unlikely to to be something major.
- And yeah, sometimes unlikely people come in unlikely packages.
- Wholly unjustifiable claims are unlikely to get anywhere.
- But this just strikes me as something that is unlikely to get through.
- By the way, he's unlikely to touch the hot stove again.
- These days, you're very unlikely to see prices go down.
- His story is one of the most unlikely stories.
Examples
-
Proves the adage that wisdom can be found in the most unlikely places.
-
But given the economic environment in Europe, it is highly unlikely that governments there will make any significant changes.
Academic text (2011) -
Your questions are unlikely to be heard.
-
That seems kind of unlikely though, so good luck.
-
Very unlikely with his leg in a cast, unless he has a very strong reason.
-
Of course, in the rain, it was unlikely they would leave the cars.
Fiction book (1990) -
But it seems increasingly unlikely that the Palestinians will ever return to the old peace process.
Academic text (2011) -
Changes in the distribution and abundance of species and communities are unlikely to occur at the same rates.
Academic text (2011) -
These days, you're very unlikely to see prices go down.
-
It's unlikely that it will rain tomorrow based on the clear forecast.
Synonyms
582
4.1
Not common and appearing in only a few places
432
4.9
Very surprising and almost impossible to accept as true
162
5.0
Very unlikely to happen
53
4.9
Not likely to happen or be true
38
3.0
Not likely to be true or real
26
7.0
Not likely to be true or hard to believe
Antonyms
How Unlikely
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Unlikely is made of the prefix un- meaning 'not' and likely, which is related to like and means 'probable' or 'having a good chance'. So, unlikely simply means 'not likely' or having little chance of happening.