not likely

idiom

: probably not

"Will she get the job?" "Not likely."

Examples of not likely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a change in government, the country probably could attract some investment – but not likely enough to ramp up oil production, Palacios said. —David Goldman, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026

But the numbers are not likely to get better. —Nicole Pilsbury, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2026

For example, the powdery mildew fungus that infects an oak tree is not likely to infect the zinnias growing beneath its canopy. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2025

But some experts consider the checks unwise and not likely to happen, mainly because the numbers just don't make sense. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025

Rhymes for not likely

• unlikely