unlikely

adjective

un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē 

1

: not likely : improbable

an unlikely outcome

2

: likely to fail : unpromising

an unlikely place to see much wildlife

Synonyms of unlikely

• doubtful
• dubious
• questionable
• improbable

Examples of unlikely in a Sentence

He was an unlikely candidate for the position.

A big city seems like an unlikely place to find wildlife.

I received support from an unlikely ally.

Recent Examples on the Web

Although sources close to Southampton — speaking on the condition of anonymity — believe this is unlikely, there is a precedent for this. — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 22 July 2026

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s ambitions to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are unlikely to materialize, despite his claims. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026

But editing one or even several genes is unlikely to completely solve this problem. — Derek Norman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

The group concluded that consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily — up to five, 8-ounce cups of coffee — is unlikely to cause harm in most adults. — Anahad O’Connor, Washington Post, 21 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unlikely

• likely

Kids Definition

unlikely

adjective

un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē 

ˈən-

1

: not likely : improbable

an unlikely story

2

: likely to fail : unpromising

an unlikely place for fishing

unlikeliness noun