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
This places the cancer in Grade Group 5, the highest risk category, associated with a greater likelihood of metastasis and a more challenging prognosis.
—
Eric M. Strauss, ABC News, 18 May 2025
The curved viewing line for the northern lights stretches as far south as central South Dakota, with the likelihood of the lights’ visibility increasing the farther north viewers are.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The likelihood of him dropping off the list altogether in that same time period because of illness or death was nearly 50%.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
His testing showed that most of the samples had an astronomically huge likelihood to have DNA contributed by the victim, but that most if not all of them also had multiple unknown contributors.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Eric M. Strauss, ABC News, 18 May 2025
The curved viewing line for the northern lights stretches as far south as central South Dakota, with the likelihood of the lights’ visibility increasing the farther north viewers are.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
The likelihood of him dropping off the list altogether in that same time period because of illness or death was nearly 50%.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 16 May 2025
His testing showed that most of the samples had an astronomically huge likelihood to have DNA contributed by the victim, but that most if not all of them also had multiple unknown contributors.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likelihood
probability
Noun
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2025
-
The probability of being attacked by a shark is one in four million.—
Allegra Leal,
New Yorker,
9 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likelihood. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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