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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Likely: Meaning, Examples, and Usage Guide (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：Probable (likely)

likely 🔊

/ˈlaɪkli/

adj., adv.

Having a good chance of happening; probable.

Smartphone weather app showing high rain probability, illustrating likely forecast

Probable 🔊

➕

/ˈprɒbəbl/

adj., adv.

Used to describe something that has a good chance of happening or being true.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old Norse 'líkligr' (like + -ly), meaning 'having the appearance of'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'like-ly' – if it's 'like' something, it's probable.

📖 Example

According to the weather forecast, it's likely to rain tomorrow, so I'll bring my umbrella. 🔊 According to the weather forecast, it's probable to rain tomorrow, so I'll bring my umbrella.

🔗 Collocations

more than likely – Very probable; almost certain

likely outcome – The result that is expected to happen

less likely – Having a smaller chance of occurring

🔄 Synonyms

probable (adj.) – Likely to happen or be the case

expected (adj.) – Regarded as likely to happen

plausible (adj.) – Seeming reasonable or probable

🚫 Antonyms

unlikely (adj.) – Not likely to happen; improbable

improbable (adj.) – Not likely to be true or to happen

🌱 Derivatives

likelihood (n.) – The state or fact of being likely

unlikely (adj.) – Not likely; improbable

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Old Norse 'líkligr', entering English via Middle English. Commonly used in probability statements, media, and daily conversation.

Meaning 2：Expected to (likely)

likely 🔊

/ˈlaɪkli/

adj., adv.

Probably going to be or do something.

Student studying in library with books, likely to succeed in exams

Expected to 🔊

➕

/ɪkˈspektɪd tuː/

adj., adv.

Indicates that someone or something is probably going to do or be a particular thing.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

She is a very hardworking student, so she is likely to get a high score on the exam. 🔊 She is a very hardworking student, so she is expected to get a high score on the exam.

🔗 Collocations

likely candidate – A person or thing that is expected to be chosen or succeed

most likely – With the greatest probability

likely to succeed – Having a high chance of achieving success

🔄 Synonyms

prone (adj.) – Likely or liable to suffer from, do, or experience something

apt (adj.) – Having a tendency to do something

liable (adj.) – Likely to do or to be something

🚫 Antonyms

unlikely (adj.) – Not likely to happen or be the case

improbable (adj.) – Not likely to be true or to happen

🌱 Derivatives

likeliness (n.) – The quality of being likely

unlikeliness (n.) – The quality of being unlikely