LIKELY

likely

(adjective) within the realm of credibility; “not a very likely excuse”

likely

(adjective) has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; “these services are likely to be available to us all before long”; “she is likely to forget”; “a likely place for a restaurant”; “the broken limb is likely to fall”; “rain is likely”; “a likely topic for investigation”; “likely candidates for the job”

probable, likely

(adjective) likely but not certain to be or become true or real; “a likely result”; “he foresaw a probable loss”

likely, potential

(adjective) expected to become or be; in prospect; “potential clients”

probably, likely, in all likelihood, in all probability, belike

(adverb) with considerable certainty; without much doubt; “He is probably out of the country”; “in all likelihood we are headed for war”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology 1

Adjective

likely (comparative likelier or more likely, superlative likeliest or most likely)

probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring

(as predicate, followed by to and infinitive) Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable

appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential

plausible; within the realm of credibility

promising; apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome

attractive; pleasant

(obsolete) Similar; like; alike.

Synonyms

• (as predicate, followed by "to" and infinitive): liable

Noun

likely (plural likelies)

Something or somebody considered likely.

Etymology 2

Adverb

likely (comparative more likely, superlative most likely) (US)

(obsolete) Similarly.

Probably.

Usage notes

• The adverb is a US usage and does not appear in British English except under direct influence of US practice.

• As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as most or quite.

• Some usage guides consider adverbial likely - instead of probably - to be poor style and an artificial, sometimes pretentious way to imply a sense of erudition. One can also opt for the adverbial form likelily, which is however so rare that it is not recorded in most dictionaries.

Anagrams

• Ilkley, Killey

Proper noun

Likely

A census-designated place in Modoc County, California, United States.

Anagrams

• Ilkley, Killey

Source: Wiktionary

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Like"ly, a. [Compar. Likelier; superl. Likeliest.] Etym: [That is, like-like. See Like, a.]

1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story. It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous. Johnson.

2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; -- followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain.

3. Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] Spenser.

4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome. Shak. Milton.

5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant.

Like"ly, adv.

Definition: In all probability; probably. While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of nothing that imported him to know. Glanvill.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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