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

To seat a jury of eight with four alternates, the defense notes, the court must qualify at least 43 jurors, something attorneys argue is unlikely given the number of disqualifications already identified. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Feb. 2026

Hanceville, home to around 3,000 people, is now the unlikely site of a bold experiment in American policing. —Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026

So Hicks as an everyday first baseman seems unlikely. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026

Like most quick fixes, experts say this combination is unlikely to do much for your symptoms and may actually hurt your recovery. —Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 6 Feb. 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