likely
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
How often you will meet it
Rank 886 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 20,727 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.010% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- has a good chance of being the case or of coming about these services are likely to be available to us all before longshe is likely to forget
- likely but not certain to be or become true or real also: probable a likely resulthe foresaw a probable loss
- expected to become or be; in prospect also: potential potential clients
- within the realm of credibility not a very likely excuse
adverb
- with considerable certainty; without much doubt also: probably, in all likelihood, in all probability, belike He is probably out of the countryin all likelihood we are headed for war
likely in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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To find one was likely to be difficult.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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But likely you've no use for our national humorous literature?
Punch — Volume 101, November 7, 1891 · Various · Chapter 1
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I should very likely come 'ome and 'arf kill you all in your beds.
Bill's Lapse Odd Craft, Part 4. · W. W. (William Wymark) Jacobs · Chapter 1
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They would all visit Ion if the ladies there were likely to be in.
Christmas with Grandma Elsie · Martha Finley · Chapter 1
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Even the servants' hall was likely to know less of prices than this one guest did.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1