Unlikely

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈlaɪkli/

Definitions of unlikely

adjective not likely to happen or be true; improbable

Example Sentences

A1 It is unlikely that it will rain tomorrow.

A2 It is unlikely that she will pass the exam without studying.

B1 It is unlikely that he will be able to finish the project on time.

B2 It is unlikely that they will win the competition with their current performance.

C1 It is unlikely that the company will be able to recover from such a huge financial loss.

C2 It is unlikely that the government will implement such drastic measures without careful consideration.

Examples of unlikely in a Sentence

formal It is highly unlikely that the experiment will yield accurate results without proper controls in place.

informal It's unlikely that we'll find a parking spot this close to the mall on a Saturday.

slang There's no way I'm going to that party, it's unlikely I'll have a good time.

figurative She's so stubborn, it's unlikely she'll ever change her mind about that decision.

Grammatical Forms of unlikely

• past tense: was unlikely
• plural: unlikelies
• comparative: more unlikely
• superlative: most unlikely
• present tense: is unlikely
• future tense: will be unlikely
• perfect tense: has been unlikely
• continuous tense: is being unlikely
• singular: unlikely
• positive degree: likely
• infinitive: to be unlikely
• gerund: being unlikely
• participle: unlikely

Origin and Evolution of unlikely

First Known Use: 1300 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'unlikely' originated from Middle English, likely derived from the combination of 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'likely' meaning 'probable'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'unlikely' has retained its original meaning of not probable or not likely, but has also taken on additional connotations of improbability or unlikeliness.