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Definition of likely
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
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Examples of likely in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples of likely from the Web
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Some Republican senators are expected to hold town halls and hear from constituents, some of whom are likely to express grievances over the health-care debate.
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With domestic demand flattening because of increased fuel efficiency in cars, oil executives say that somewhere is likely to be overseas.
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About half of those affected are children, according the group, and with no end in sight to the fighting there, the number of those fleeing is likely to grow.
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For example, coastal areas or areas in the flood plain of a river are more likely to experience a natural disaster, whereas areas at higher elevation are at lower risk.
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Runners-up are likely to make the team but must wait for the completion of the selection process.
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Developer Bill Gold, whose Vine Place LLC acquired the property last year after the initial developer sold it, said construction has started and walls are likely to go up in the next two weeks.
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Few mainstream models are still in production by the time the earliest versions of a generation reach their eighth birthdays, and there likely will have been one or more facelifts or refreshes squeezed into that brief span.
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King and redshirt freshman A.J. Rose seem likely to take those two spots in the rotation with Benny Snell also seeing more carries than his team-high 186 from last season.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'likely'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of likely
Middle English, from Old English gelīclic fitting (from gelīc like) and Old Norse glīkligr, līkligr, from glīkr like; akin to Old English gelīc
likely
Definition of likely
: in all probability : probably those who seek power will most likely wind up exercising it — Halton Arp
Examples of likely in a Sentence
He'll very likely be late.
“Will it rain tomorrow?” “Most likely.”
Origin and Etymology of likely
see 1likely
LIKELY Defined for English Language Learners
likely
playDefinition of likely for English Language Learners
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—used to indicate the chance that something will happen
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: seeming to be true
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: seeming to be right or suited for a purpose
likely
Definition of likely for English Language Learners
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: without much doubt
LIKELY Defined for Kids
Definition of likely for Students
likelier
;likeliest
1 : very possibly going to happen That glass is likely to fall.
2 : seeming to be the truth : believable That is the most likely explanation.
3 : giving hope of turning out well : promising They found a likely spot for a picnic.
Definition of likely for Students
: without great doubt She will likely be elected class president.
Learn More about likely
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for likely Spanish Central: Translation of likely Nglish: Translation of likely for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of likely for Arabic speakers
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