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

Analysts say the sector is unlikely to deliver a meaningful rebound in growth in Q2. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 15 July 2026

Luther said that is unlikely to happen because the governor and lawmakers are campaigning for the November election. — Jack Fink, CBS News, 14 July 2026

Although the third-place play-off counts towards fantasy points, that game is unlikely to be taken too seriously by either side and rotation could be an issue. — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Two lawyers IndieWire spoke with believe that being granted an injunction could be unlikely to achieve, as the states’ case for anti-competitive harm caused by the merger is unconventional and may be difficult to prove urgency in that regard. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 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