Definitions for: Likely


[adv] with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war"
[adj] within the realm of credibility; "not a very likely excuse"; "a plausible story"
[adj] has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job"
[adj] likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss"
[adj] expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients"; "expected income"



Webster (1913) Definition: Like"ly, a. [Compar. Likelier (l[imac]k"l[i^]*[~e]r);
superl. Likeliest.] [That is, like-like. See Like, a.]
1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story.

It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy
and conspicuous. --Johnson.

2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; --
followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain.

3. Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] --Spenser.

4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable;
handsome. --Shak. Milton.

5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well
adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a
likely servant.


Like"ly, adv.
In all probability; probably.

While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of
nothing that imported him to know. --Glanvill.

Synonyms: apt(p), believable, belike, credible, equiprobable, expected, in all likelihood, in all probability, liable(p), plausible, potential, presumed(a), presumptive, probable, probably, promising, prospective, verisimilar

Antonyms: improbable, unlikely

See Also: possible

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