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
At 36 and as a person of Indigenous heritage, the likelihood of becoming another harrowing statistic was all too real to me.
—
Angie Jaime, Vogue, 30 July 2025
The likelihood of that outcome, however, is slim at best.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Unlike traditional alerts, these messages escalate in urgency depending on the likelihood of fraud.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025
The deadline for finalizing bilateral trade deals was extended from early July to August but the likelihood of concluding even a small fraction of the Trump Administration’s target of 90 deals by then is remote.
—Devashish Mitra, Time, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Angie Jaime, Vogue, 30 July 2025
The likelihood of that outcome, however, is slim at best.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2025
Unlike traditional alerts, these messages escalate in urgency depending on the likelihood of fraud.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025
The deadline for finalizing bilateral trade deals was extended from early July to August but the likelihood of concluding even a small fraction of the Trump Administration’s target of 90 deals by then is remote.
—Devashish Mitra, Time, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likelihood
probability
Noun
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There are two primary strategies to keep in mind: Pre-Earnings Positioning: Evaluate the historical probabilities and take a stance before the earnings announcement.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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The Japanese government has repeatedly warned there is a 70-80% chance that Japan will be rocked by another Nankai Trough earthquake within 30 years – leading many scientists to questioning the accuracy of that probability.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likelihood. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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