likelier; likeliest
1
: having a high probability of occurring or being true : very probable
rain is likely today
2
: apparently qualified : suitable
a likely place
4
: promising
a likely candidate
5
: attractive
a likely child
: in all probability : probably
… those who seek power will most likely wind up exercising it …—
Halton Arp
Halton ArpExamples of likely in a Sentence
Adjective
That seems to be the most likely explanation.
This looks like a likely spot for a picnic.
They regard him as a likely candidate for the job.
Adverb
He'll very likely be late.
“Will it rain tomorrow?” “Most likely.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025
The count of municipalities not meeting these two limits is likely to grow as the EPA wraps up a three-year initiative that required all public utilities serving at least a few thousand customers to check for forever chemicals in their drinking water.
—Austin Fast, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
New York City could see a brief short period of snow on Friday evening, the steadiest snow will likely remain south of the city, according to the outlet.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
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Adjective
The scientists studied how 1,076 chemical contaminants affected 22 bacterial species, creating a machine-learning model to forecast how likely chemicals were to harm gut health.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025
The count of municipalities not meeting these two limits is likely to grow as the EPA wraps up a three-year initiative that required all public utilities serving at least a few thousand customers to check for forever chemicals in their drinking water.
—Austin Fast, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
Adverb
The study authors believe an eruption occurred around 1345, about two years before the start of the pandemic, from either a single volcano or a cluster of volcanoes of unknown location, likely in the tropics.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 4 Dec. 2025
New York City could see a brief short period of snow on Friday evening, the steadiest snow will likely remain south of the city, according to the outlet.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for likely
Cite this Entry
“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/likely. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
likely
1 of 2 adjective
like·ly
ˈlī-klē 
likelier; likeliest
1
: very possibly going to happen
it's likely to start raining any time
2
: seeming to be the truth : believable
a likely story
3
: giving hope of turning out well : promising
a likely spot for a picnic
a likely looking customer
likely
2 of 2 adverb
: without great doubt : probably
the first loaves of bread people made were likely hard and flat
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