Likely

Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪkli/

Definitions of likely

adjective having a high probability of occurring or being true

Example Sentences

A1 It is likely to rain tomorrow.

A2 She is likely to pass the exam with all her studying.

B1 It is likely that they will arrive late due to traffic.

B2 The team is likely to win the championship this year.

C1 It is likely that the company will expand its operations internationally.

C2 The evidence presented makes it likely that the suspect committed the crime.

Examples of likely in a Sentence

formal Based on the data analysis, it is likely that the company will experience a decrease in profits next quarter.

informal I think it's likely that we'll have to reschedule the meeting due to the weather forecast.

slang She's likely gonna be late again, she's always running behind.

figurative The chances of him winning the lottery are about as likely as finding a needle in a haystack.

Grammatical Forms of likely

• past tense: liked
• plural: likelies
• comparative: more likely
• superlative: most likely
• present tense: likely
• future tense: will likely
• perfect tense: have likely
• continuous tense: is likely
• singular: likely
• positive degree: likely
• infinitive: to likely
• gerund: likelying
• participle: likelyed

Origin and Evolution of likely

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'likely' originated from the Old English word 'līclīc', which meant 'similar' or 'appropriate'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'likely' evolved to signify the probability of something happening or being true, shifting from its original meaning of similarity or appropriateness.