unlikelyun‧like‧ly /ʌnˈlaɪkli/ ●●● S3 W2 adjective 
Donna might be able to come tomorrow, but it’s very unlikely.unlikely to do something The weather is unlikely to improve over the next few days.it is unlikely (that) It’s unlikely that the thieves will be caught.in the unlikely event of something (=if something which is unlikely happens) In the unlikely event of a fire, passengers should move to the top deck.2an unlikely place, person, or thing is strange and not what you would expect: The birds had nested in some unlikely places. The quiet village of Brockhampton was an unlikely setting for such a crime.3not likely to be true: an unlikely storyCOLLOCATIONSadverbshighly/most/very unlikely· It’s highly unlikely that he’ll survive.extremely unlikely· The government is extremely unlikely to change its policy.rather/pretty/quite/fairly unlikely· I may have thrown it away by mistake, but that’s pretty unlikely.increasingly unlikely (=more and more unlikely as time passes)· It looks increasingly unlikely that the Bank of England will cut interest rates.nounsan unlikely possibility/prospect· The most unlikely possibility was that she might resign.an unlikely scenario/occurrence· They should build a new road, but that’s an unlikely scenario.an unlikely alliance/coalition· Once he resigned as president, the unlikely coalition of former enemies fell apart.phrasesin the unlikely event of something (=if something which is unlikely happens)· In the unlikely event of an accident, the system will automatically shut down.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A small amount of the drug is unlikely to have any harmful effects.
- I think it's unlikely that the police had anything to do with it.
- It's highly unlikely that Burton will be the party's nominee.
- It is unlikely that anyone saw the attack.
- She might come with us, but it's fairly unlikely.
- Students invent all sorts of unlikely explanations as to why they can't do their homework.
- That sounds a pretty unlikely story to me!
- A large proportion of our researchers are therefore unlikely to make major contributions to the literature of their research area.
- Anthony eventually tracks him down and the unlikely chums share a drink or two too many.
- But they are unlikely to be able to save more than a dozen or so seats.
- Ex-journo turned editor, his recent tome Gothic Rock enjoyed the unlikely publishing coup of having no competition.
- It is unlikely to put them out.
- It will be gearing up this year, but is unlikely to repeat the 1991 rights issue.
- Waterstone's was an unlikely success story of the 80s Thatcherite boom.
Longman Language Activatorwhen something seems very unlikely to be true
difficult or impossible to believe: · The things he had heard about her were almost unbelievable.it is unbelievable how/that: · It's unbelievable how nasty people can be.· I find it unbelievable that Mr. Carey does not remember the meeting at all.
a story, explanation, or excuse that is unlikely cannot be believed because it is so unusual: · That sounds a pretty unlikely story to me!· Students invent all sorts of unlikely explanations as to why they can't do their homework.it is unlikely (that): · I think it's unlikely that the police had anything to do with it.highly unlikely: · It's highly unlikely that Burton will be the party's nominee.
a statement or event that is improbable is difficult to believe, even though it may in fact be true or may actually have happened: · The Rockets managed an improbable victory in last night's game.it is improbable that: · It's improbable that she would have been so successful without famous parents.highly improbable: · It's highly improbable that someone would win the lottery twice.
a statement or explanation that is implausible is difficult to believe because it is not like the way things usually happen: · Jill says she can earn $50,000 from the job, but this is an implausible figure.· The idea that a virus could wipe out an entire city so quickly seems a little implausible.
something that is incredible is so surprising or strange that it is difficult to believe, even though it is probably true: · This factory was capable of producing an incredible 100 cars per hour.it is incredible that: · It is incredible that the police still haven't caught him.
something that is inconceivable is so surprising or strange that it seems you cannot believe that it could possibly happen or be true: · The amount of time and money they have wasted on the project is inconceivable.it is inconceivable that: · It's inconceivable that university officials would fire someone as talented and loyal as Professor Schultz.
ideas, statements, and excuses that are unconvincing do not seem to be true or right and you cannot be persuaded to believe that they are: · Peter came to me with a rather unconvincing apology.· Their denial was unconvincing in view of the physical evidence linking them to the bombing.
an idea, story, or explanation that is far-fetched is difficult to believe because it sounds so surprising, unusual, or impossible: · The idea of travelling to other solar systems may sound far-fetched but scientists now see it as a real possibility.· His lawyers argue that the charges are based on a far-fetched conspiracy theory.
formal an idea, story, or explanation that is preposterous is impossible to believe because it sounds completely unreasonable: · It's a preposterous claim that the government is trying to poison its citizens.it is preposterous that: · It is preposterous that Bruce did not know that we were there.
an excuse or explanation that is lame is difficult to believe, because the person who says it has not tried hard enough to make it sound true: · She's always got some lame excuse for being late.· It sounded lame but I really had lost my ticket.
possible but not likely something that is unlikely will probably not happen or is probably not true: · She might come with us, but it's fairly unlikely.unlikely to do something: · A small amount of the drug is unlikely to have any harmful effects.it is unlikely (that): · It is unlikely that anyone saw the attack.
formal unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true: highly improbable: · Carter claims he paid $4000 for the papers, which seems highly improbable.· The new pay agreement makes further industrial action by the union highly improbable.it is/seems improbable that: · It seems improbable that America's allies will oppose the proposed arms reduction.
very unlikely to be true or very unlikely to happen: · "Is Maddy coming tonight?" "It's looking doubtful - she was really sick."it is doubtful that: · It's doubtful that we'll finish this tonight.
extremely unlikely to happen: · The chances of such an accident happening again are very remote.· There is only a remote prospect of peace in the region.· There is a remote possibility the program could be halted, if funding were cut.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadverbs It’s highly unlikely that the project will be finished on time.
· It’s highly unlikely that he’ll survive.
· The government is extremely unlikely to change its policy.
· I may have thrown it away by mistake, but that’s pretty unlikely.
(=more and more unlikely as time passes)· It looks increasingly unlikely that the Bank of England will cut interest rates.
nouns· The most unlikely possibility was that she might resign.
· They should build a new road, but that’s an unlikely scenario.
· Once he resigned as president, the unlikely coalition of former enemies fell apart.
phrases (=if something which is unlikely happens)· In the unlikely event of an accident, the system will automatically shut down.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=someone who you did not expect to be brave or did not expect to admire)· Baxter was the unlikely hero of the game.
It’s highly unlikely that the project will be finished on time.· I might get the job, but it is an unlikely scenario.
· This quiet suburb may seem an unlikely setting for a top restaurant.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· It was also aware that a further renewal of the Carnegie Trust's grant was extremely unlikely.· Continued presentation of the scenes within the pairing phase is extremely unlikely to result in an unconditioned response.· However the constraints are such that without new legislation it is extremely unlikely that this is an option open to the Catholic sector.· But it is extremely unlikely that any answer will be received.· However, transplantations of a head from one body to another are extremely unlikely.· You are extremely unlikely to eat this amount - some 9000 calories - in one day.· But that Parliament has not met since 1706 and is extremely unlikely ever to meet again.· It is extremely unlikely that if the House of Lords did not exist it would be invented in its present form.
· If what he says is true, which is highly unlikely, they must visit his latrine during the hours of darkness.· On the other hand, the Jackson amendment seemed highly unlikely to pass Congress, and the attempt could be costly politically.· A return to formalism is highly unlikely given popular expectations of individualized justice.· And is it not highly unlikely that there should be a rule which ensures that what we desire will come about?· A couple of other points that make the purchase of Gazza highly unlikely. 1.· This makes it highly unlikely that the council will be able to meet the three-month deadline on any site.· This would appear to be highly unlikely.· It is, therefore, highly unlikely that imitation of adult models can explain their occurrence.
· It is most unlikely that without the reformulation a hearer would have even understood what the first segment was about.· Tomorrow's meeting at Carlisle, where the track is currently frozen, is most unlikely to go ahead.· It's most unlikely that will be achieved if the rolled joint or poultry is cooked from frozen. 3.· The tale is inherently a most unlikely one, uniting a pious lady with a pagan fertility ritual.· Even the most unlikely avenues are worth exploring.· Stars have risen from the most unlikely backgrounds, as Pauline Norton's Bubbles proves.· You should not arrive early as we are most unlikely to have waiting space available in the lounge area.· Unless there are political brownie points from on high it is most unlikely you will receive assistance.
· The Depression and the decline of the Distressed Areas made a return to such unrest very unlikely.· You are very unlikely to be suffering from it, as it is almost entirely confined to males.· The demands made by terminals on channels and lines are very unlikely to exceed their capacity.· These last three are very, very unlikely, but that is all one can say.· And for any of these suspects to have done it, one had to posit a very unlikely set of circumstances.· It is very unlikely to be roads with the depth of popular feeling on the subject at the moment.· Nails was very unlikely to have left the car in the same place; he never did, it was too inconvenient.· It seemed very unlikely that Friend was from Madreidetic.
NOUN· In the unlikely event of trouble they would understandably not want to carry the can alone.· Except in the unlikely event that rates soon plummet, it could cost the bank up to £100m this year.
· On my birth certificate it states that I was born in Oban, which seems an unlikely place for the second coming.· To that end, I try to give my sons mentors, and these come from unlikely places.· Young cuckoos are sometimes reared in the most unlikely places.· Discharges are contacted, often, in very unlikely places.· And despite the recession, it has a full order book with some requests from the most unlikely places.· Such sanctions permeated society and popped up even in the most unlikely places.· It is an unlikely place for a revolution.· Five Forks, like most battlefields, is an unlikely place for such carnage.
WORD FAMILYnounlikelihoodadjectivelikely ≠ unlikelyadverblikely
1not likely to happen: Donna might be able to come tomorrow, but it’s very unlikely.unlikely to do something The weather is unlikely to improve over the next few days.it is unlikely (that) It’s unlikely that the thieves will be caught.in the unlikely event of something (=if something which is unlikely happens) In the unlikely event of a fire, passengers should move to the top deck.2an unlikely place, person, or thing is strange and not what you would expect: The birds had nested in some unlikely places. The quiet village of Brockhampton was an unlikely setting for such a crime.3not likely to be true: an unlikely storyCOLLOCATIONSadverbshighly/most/very unlikely· It’s highly unlikely that he’ll survive.extremely unlikely· The government is extremely unlikely to change its policy.rather/pretty/quite/fairly unlikely· I may have thrown it away by mistake, but that’s pretty unlikely.increasingly unlikely (=more and more unlikely as time passes)· It looks increasingly unlikely that the Bank of England will cut interest rates.nounsan unlikely possibility/prospect· The most unlikely possibility was that she might resign.an unlikely scenario/occurrence· They should build a new road, but that’s an unlikely scenario.an unlikely alliance/coalition· Once he resigned as president, the unlikely coalition of former enemies fell apart.phrasesin the unlikely event of something (=if something which is unlikely happens)· In the unlikely event of an accident, the system will automatically shut down.