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
The review found the eating pattern did not produce clinically meaningful weight loss compared with traditional diets or no intervention, did not significantly increase the likelihood of losing at least 5% of body weight and showed no meaningful difference in quality of life.
—
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Insurance companies determine the likelihood of a policyholder filing a claim and the potential cost of that claim, and then base the premium for that client on that assessment.
—Lyssanoel Frater, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
The sluggish rate of growth increases the likelihood that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will press ahead with plans to revive the economy by raising government spending and cutting taxes, Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, wrote in a note.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
However, the likelihood of this happening does depend on what’s causing the thinning of your hair.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Insurance companies determine the likelihood of a policyholder filing a claim and the potential cost of that claim, and then base the premium for that client on that assessment.
—Lyssanoel Frater, IndyStar, 17 Feb. 2026
The sluggish rate of growth increases the likelihood that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will press ahead with plans to revive the economy by raising government spending and cutting taxes, Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia Pacific at Capital Economics, wrote in a note.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
However, the likelihood of this happening does depend on what’s causing the thinning of your hair.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likelihood
probability
Noun
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Prior to Wednesday, speculators had been fairly balanced in their view of whether a 25-basis-point cut would come at the FOMC’s next meeting in March, giving it a probability of around 40%, per CME’s FedWatch barometer.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
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The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likelihood. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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