prob·a·ble
ˈprä-bə-bəl 
ˈprä(b)-bəl
1
: supported by evidence strong enough to establish presumption but not proof
a probable hypothesis
2
: establishing a probability
probable evidence
3
: likely to be or become true or real
probable outcome
: one that is probable
Synonyms
Examples of probable in a Sentence
Adjective
It is probable that life exists outside of our planet.
the counselor could find no probable reason for the girl's bizarre actions
Recent Examples on the Web
Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024
Up next: Giants at Rockies, 1:10 p.m. Monday Rockies probable pitchers: RHP Dakota Hudson, RHP Ryan Feltner, RHP Peter Lambert,
LHP Ty Blach, RHP Gavin Hollowell, RHP John Curtiss, LHP Jalen Beeks.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2024
But when our core temperature gets to about 42 degrees Celsius (around 107.5 degrees Fahrenheit), people face heat stroke and probable death as the body strains to keep cool and the heart works harder, inducing heart attacks.
—Stephen Armstrong, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2024
Encouraging a collective commitment to withhold the standard of forward-thinking paired with decisive action fosters an environment where favorable outcomes are not only possible but probable.
—Arash Vossoughi, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
He is listed as probable for Sunday’s matchup against the Wizards.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2024
She was found at or near her condominium in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, a case which the local police are treating as probable death by suicide.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024
As the Rangers open the season on Thursday against the Cubs, the probable starting rotation consists of Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2024
The Core Ultra chips would be the probable inclusion in any such devices, too.
—Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023
The one-mile Matriarch for older fillies and mares on closing day has six probables who are from the east.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023
Markkanen, sidelined for the last 11 games, is listed a probable for Thursday’s game in Detroit -- an important development for the shorthanded Cavaliers who are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference at 35-23.
—Chris Fedor, cleveland, 23 Feb. 2022
But Toynbee sought to distill the probable from the ambiguous.
—Matthew Taylor King, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2023
The reproach went deeper: contemporary fiction was heir to an intellectual legacy that valued the probable over the improbable, the steady norm over the turbulent exception, and so was unsuited even to conceiving the scale of the crisis.
—Aaron Matz, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
The Brewers have announced Aaron Ashby will start one of the games in their Memorial Day doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs but have yet to officially list their other probable.
—Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 May 2022
Hope Sharon Kennedy, who’s a complete shill for the probable can party.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 26 May 2022
The report, released Monday, shows 484 students and staff in Macomb County schools with new probable or confirmed cases of the virus linked to outbreaks or clusters during the week of Oct. 7-14.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 20 Oct. 2021
Adjective
Rain is probable late tonight into early Tuesday, late Wednesday into Thursday and again over the weekend.
—Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024
Up next: Giants at Rockies, 1:10 p.m. Monday Rockies probable pitchers: RHP Dakota Hudson, RHP Ryan Feltner, RHP Peter Lambert,
LHP Ty Blach, RHP Gavin Hollowell, RHP John Curtiss, LHP Jalen Beeks.
—Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2024
But when our core temperature gets to about 42 degrees Celsius (around 107.5 degrees Fahrenheit), people face heat stroke and probable death as the body strains to keep cool and the heart works harder, inducing heart attacks.
—Stephen Armstrong, WIRED, 28 Feb. 2024
Encouraging a collective commitment to withhold the standard of forward-thinking paired with decisive action fosters an environment where favorable outcomes are not only possible but probable.
—Arash Vossoughi, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
He is listed as probable for Sunday’s matchup against the Wizards.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2024
She was found at or near her condominium in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, a case which the local police are treating as probable death by suicide.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024
As the Rangers open the season on Thursday against the Cubs, the probable starting rotation consists of Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Mar. 2024
The Core Ultra chips would be the probable inclusion in any such devices, too.
—Matthew Buzzi, PCMAG, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
The 1 1/8-mile Hollywood Derby for 3-year-olds has a total of five probables scheduled to ship in from the east.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023
The one-mile Matriarch for older fillies and mares on closing day has six probables who are from the east.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Nov. 2023
Markkanen, sidelined for the last 11 games, is listed a probable for Thursday’s game in Detroit -- an important development for the shorthanded Cavaliers who are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference at 35-23.
—Chris Fedor, cleveland, 23 Feb. 2022
But Toynbee sought to distill the probable from the ambiguous.
—Matthew Taylor King, WSJ, 2 Jan. 2023
The reproach went deeper: contemporary fiction was heir to an intellectual legacy that valued the probable over the improbable, the steady norm over the turbulent exception, and so was unsuited even to conceiving the scale of the crisis.
—Aaron Matz, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022
The Brewers have announced Aaron Ashby will start one of the games in their Memorial Day doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs but have yet to officially list their other probable.
—Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 May 2022
Hope Sharon Kennedy, who’s a complete shill for the probable can party.
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 26 May 2022
The report, released Monday, shows 484 students and staff in Macomb County schools with new probable or confirmed cases of the virus linked to outbreaks or clusters during the week of Oct. 7-14.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 20 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'probable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near probable
Cite this Entry
“Probable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/probable. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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