probably

adverb

prob·​a·​bly ˈprä-bə-blē How to pronounce probably (audio)
ˈprä(b)-blē
: insofar as seems reasonably true, factual, or to be expected : without much doubt
is probably happy
it will probably rain

Examples of probably in a Sentence

The impact probably added all but the last few percent of Earth's mass and set the stage for Earth's and the Moon's subsequent evolution. Mark Wilson, Physics Today, February 2008
It was no secret that McKay preferred the thrill of victory to the agony of defeat, and that, along with his innocent optimism and snark-free sincerity, probably makes him hopelessly old-fashioned. Richard Hoffer, Sports Illustrated, 16 June 2008
But what these newly inaugurated gym rats probably don't know is that besides buffing up their bodies for summer, they're also buffing up their brains. Christen Brownlee, Science News, 25 Feb. 2006
It will probably rain today. They will probably be here soon. It was probably the best concert I've ever been to. There were probably about 150 people at the wedding. “Are you going to the picnic?” “Probably.” “Can you finish painting the room today?” “Probably not.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That means David Jiricek will probably get an extended look after being sent down to the AHL just last week to work on his game. Joe Smith, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 And, though users can make the most of lackluster AI moderation (Grok Imagine) or figure out clever ways to circumvent guardrails (Sora) in order to misrepresent famous people, the greater danger probably comes from videos that purport to capture events involving unknown parties. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025 In every one of these Thomas McGuane stories, something is going to be very wrong and yet probably hilarious—existential slapstick in ventriloquial voices with such precise language and restraint that his sentences will literally shine up off the page. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025 So that one hit us probably the hardest. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for probably

Word History

Etymology

see probable entry 1

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of probably was in 1600

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Probably.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/probably. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

probably

adverb
prob·​a·​bly ˈpräb-(ə-)blē How to pronounce probably (audio)
ˈpräb-lē
: without much doubt : very likely

More from Merriam-Webster on probably

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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