Reading Theme:
Unlikely: Meaning, Examples, and Common Usage (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：not probable (unlikely)
unlikely
/ʌnˈlaɪkli/
adj.
Not expected to happen; not probable.
not probable
➕
/nɒt ˈprɒbəbl/
adj.
Describes something that is not expected to happen or has a low chance of occurring.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
Prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' + 'likely' (from Old Norse 'líkligr' meaning 'probable').
💡 Mnemonic
Think: 'Un-' means NOT, so 'unlikely' = NOT likely to happen. Picture a sunny day with zero rain clouds.
📖 Example
My friend bet me ten dollars that it would rain, but with such a clear blue sky, it seems unlikely.
My friend bet me ten dollars that it would rain, but with such a clear blue sky, it seems unlikely.
🔗 Collocations
highly unlikely – very improbable
seem unlikely – appear improbable
unlikely event – an event that is not probable
🔄 Synonyms
improbable (adj.) – Not likely to happen or be true.
doubtful (adj.) – Uncertain or unlikely; not probable.
remote (adj.) – Very slight or unlikely (e.g., a remote chance).
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
unlikeliness (n.) – The quality of being unlikely.
unlikelihood (n.) – The state of being improbable.
📖 Cultural Story
First recorded in the 15th century, 'unlikely' combined the common negation prefix 'un-' with 'likely', which itself derives from Old Norse. The word became widely used in English to express improbability or doubt.
Meaning 2：hard to believe (unlikely)
unlikely
/ʌnˈlaɪkli/
adj.
Not seeming to be true or real; hard to believe.
hard to believe
➕
/hɑːd tə bɪˈliːv/
adj.
Describes a statement or story that seems not true or not realistic because it is too strange or contradictory.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
His explanation for being late was so bizarre and full of contradictions that it sounded completely unlikely.
His explanation for being late was so bizarre and full of contradictions that it sounded completely unlikely.
🔗 Collocations
an unlikely story – a story that is hard to believe
sound unlikely – appear improbable or unbelievable
find something unlikely – consider something as not credible
🔄 Synonyms
implausible (adj.) – Not seeming reasonable or probable; lacking believability.
incredible (adj.) – So extraordinary as to seem impossible or hard to believe.
far-fetched (adj.) – Unlikely and unconvincing; difficult to accept as true.
🚫 Antonyms
plausible (adj.) – Seeming reasonable or probable; convincing.
credible (adj.) – Able to be believed; convincing.
believable (adj.) – Able to be accepted as true or real.
🌱 Derivatives
unlikeliness (n.) – The quality of being hard to believe.
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