as in probability
the quality or state of being likely to occur
the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high
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Recent Examples of likelihood
Situations that last longer, escalate further, and increase the likelihood of serious injury.
—
Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Mass arbitration — where 25 or more claims against the same company are pooled together — have become more common and provide a greater likelihood of settlement awards for claimants.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
This thicker mucus is harder to get rid of, which also increases inflammation and increases the likelihood of infection and triggering existing allergies and respiratory issues.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Apr. 2026
And, while no roof can eliminate all risk, choosing materials engineered for durability may help reduce the likelihood of major repairs down the road.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Rick Pozniak, Boston Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Mass arbitration — where 25 or more claims against the same company are pooled together — have become more common and provide a greater likelihood of settlement awards for claimants.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
This thicker mucus is harder to get rid of, which also increases inflammation and increases the likelihood of infection and triggering existing allergies and respiratory issues.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 14 Apr. 2026
And, while no roof can eliminate all risk, choosing materials engineered for durability may help reduce the likelihood of major repairs down the road.
—Ethan Stone, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likelihood
probability
Noun
-
The perils of relying on probability In the United States, flood risk is publicly defined by maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.—
Dominic Boyer,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
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The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likelihood. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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