English Online Dictionary. What means likely? What does likely mean?
English
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈlaɪkli/
- Rhymes: -aɪkli
- Hyphenation: like‧ly
Etymology 1
From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċ (“likely”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *līkalīkaz, equivalent to like + -ly (adjectival suffix).
Adjective
likely (comparative more likely, superlative 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; promising, having a good potential.
- Plausible; within the realm of credibility.
- Leading with high probability to some specified outcome.
- (archaic) Attractive; pleasant.
- (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
Synonyms
- (as predicate, followed by "to" and infinitive): liable
Derived terms
- as likely as not
- likely lad
- likely story
- more than likely
- not likely
- not Pygmalion likely
Translations
Noun
likely (plural likelies)
- Something or somebody considered likely.
Etymology 2
From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċe (“equally”) and Old Norse líkliga, glíkliga (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *līkalīka, equivalent to like + -ly (adverbial suffix).
Adverb
likely (comparative more likely, superlative most likely) (US)
- Probably.
- Synonym: see synonyms at probably
- Likely he’ll win the election in this economy. = He’ll likely win the election in this economy. = He likely will win the election in this economy.
- Most likely he’ll win the election in this economy. = He’ll most likely win the election in this economy. = He most likely will win the election in this economy.
- (obsolete) Similarly.
Usage notes
- The adverb is more common in US English than in British English.
- As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as most or quite.
Translations
Anagrams
- Ilkley, Killey