| likely Jul 19th 2013, 02:10, by ReidAA | | | | Line 121: | Line 121: | | | # {{context|obsolete|lang=en}} [[similarly|Similarly]]. | | # {{context|obsolete|lang=en}} [[similarly|Similarly]]. | | | # [[probably|Probably]]. | | # [[probably|Probably]]. | | − | #: '''''Likely''' he'll win the election in this economy.'' | + | #*{{quote-book|year=1913|author={{w|Joseph C. Lincoln}}|chapter=1 | | | + | |title=[http://openlibrary.org/works/OL5535161W Mr. Pratt's Patients]|chapter=1 | | | + | |passage=Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's '''likely''' to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”}} | | | + | #: {{usex|'''Likely''' he'll win the election in this economy.}} | | | | | | | | ====Usage notes==== | | ====Usage notes==== |
Latest revision as of 02:10, 19 July 2013 English[edit] Etymology[edit] From Old Norse líkligr, from líkr ("like, similar"). Pronunciation[edit] Adjective[edit] likely (comparative likelier or more likely, superlative likeliest or most likely) - probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
- Rain is likely later this afternoon.
- probable
- They are likely to become angry with him.
- 2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, "Stay Cool. Call North Korea's Bluff.", New York Times:
- People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea's leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?
- appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential
- Jones is a likely candidate for management.
- plausible; Within the realm of credibility
- not a very likely excuse.
- 2011 December 19, Kerry Brown, "Kim Jong-il obituary", The Guardian:
- The DPRK propagated an extraordinary tale of his birth occurring on Mount Baekdu, one of Korea's most revered sites, being accompanied by shooting stars in the sky. It is more likely that he was born in a small village in the USSR, while his father was serving as a Soviet-backed general during the second world war.
- promising; Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome
- a likely topic for investigation.
- attractive; pleasant
- found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
- (as predicate, followed by to and infinitive) Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined.
- He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
- 2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, "Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham", BBC Sport:
- In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages -with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.
- (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)
Synonyms[edit] - (as predicate, followed by "to" and infinitive): liable
Translations[edit] probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring displaying the qualities or characteristics that make something probable appropriate; believable; having a good potential plausible; within the realm of credibility suitable; apparently appropriate or suitable promising; apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome - The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked - Afrikaans: waarskynlik, vermoedelik
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likely (comparative more likely, superlative most likely) - (obsolete) Similarly.
- Probably.
- 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, Mr. Pratt's Patients:
- Thinks I to myself, "Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer 'cottage' and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning."
- Likely he'll win the election in this economy.
Usage notes[edit] - As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as most or quite.
- Some usage guides consider adverbial likely - instead of probably - to be poor style. One can also opt for the somewhat rarer adverbial form likelily.
Translations[edit] likely (plural likelies) - Something or somebody considered likely.
Statistics[edit] 
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