Synonyms for likely
ˈlaɪk lilike·ly

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. likelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   liable

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. likely

   Apt implies a natural fitness or tendency; an impetuous person is apt to speak hastily. Liable refers to a contingency regarded as unfavorable; as, the ship was liable to founder at any moment. Likely refers to a contingent event regarded as very probable, and usually, tho not always, favorable; as, an industrious worker is likely to succeed. Credible signifies readily to be believed; as, a credible narrative; likely in such connection is used ironically to signify the reverse; as, a likely story! A thing is conceivable of which the mind can entertain the possibility; a thing is conjectural which is conjectured as possible or probable without other support than a conjecture, or tentative judgment; a thing is presumable which, from what is antecedently known, may betaken for granted in advance of proof. Reasonable in this connection signifies such as the reason can be satisfied with, independently of external grounds for belief or disbelief; as, that seems a reasonable supposition. Compare APPARENT.

   Synonyms:
   apt, conceivable, conjectural, credible, liable, presumable, probable, reasonable

   Antonyms:
   doubtful, dubious, improbable, incredible, questionable, unlikely, unreasonable

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. likelyadjective

   has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

   "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job"

   Synonyms:
   potential, probable

   Antonyms:
   farfetched, remote, outside, unlikely, incredible, implausible, last, unbelievable, retrospective

2. probable, likelyadjective

   likely but not certain to be or become true or real

   "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss"

   Synonyms:
   potential, probable

   Antonyms:
   farfetched, unlikely, incredible, unbelievable, last, implausible, retrospective, remote, outside

3. likely, potentialadjective

   expected to become or be; in prospect

   "potential clients"

   Synonyms:
   potential, possible, probable

   Antonyms:
   unlikely, farfetched, retrospective, incredible, implausible, unbelievable, remote, last, outside

4. likelyadverb

   within the realm of credibility

   "not a very likely excuse"

   Synonyms:
   potential, probable

   Antonyms:
   incredible, unbelievable, implausible, farfetched, outside, remote, retrospective, last, unlikely

5. probably, likely, in all likelihood, in all probability, belikeadverb

   with considerable certainty; without much doubt

   "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"

   Synonyms:
   credibly, in all probability, probably, believably, in all likelihood, belike, plausibly

   Antonyms:
   remote, unlikely, outside, farfetched, last, unbelievable, incredible, retrospective, implausible

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. likelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   probable, credible

2. likelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   in a fair way, to be expected

3. likelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   pleasing, agreeable, that may be liked

4. likelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   [colloquial, U. S.] respectable, worthy, estimable, of good reputation

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. likelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   probable, verisimilar, good-looking, comely, appropriate

   Antonyms:
   unlikely, improbable

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "likely":

   probable, probably, susceptible, presumably, unlikely, possible, inclined, potential, liable, prone, possibly, capable, plausible, risk, apt, likelihood, perhaps, potentially, probability, expected

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How to use likely in a sentence?

1. Samantha Heller:

   Experts believe that when students are given an adequate amount of time for lunch, they will be more likely to try healthy options and make healthy food choices which down the road may lower the risk for obesity and other chronic diseases.

2. Gary Slutkin:

   You're interrupting the transmission. You're getting to the places where events are most likely to happen, with the right people who can get there, we've demonstrated you can drop violence in neighborhoods, to the point where it would be a very rare event.

3. Christoph Weil:

   In the first quarter of 2021, the decline is likely to be somewhat steeper. However, there will not be a slump like the one in the first half of 2020. Instead, a noticeable recovery is likely to set in again from the spring.

4. Bartlomiej Kubicki:

   If the project is cancelled this will be positive for both companies. What will happen to it? I think this will likely be changed into a gas-fuelled one, although this would mean a few years' delay.

5. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius:

   There are a number of problems which remain to be resolved ... but it is very likely to go ahead, it is really a last-chance negotiation.