| 释义 |
Definition of likely in English: likelyadjectivelikeliest, likelier ˈlʌɪkliˈlaɪkli 1Such as well might happen or be true; probable. speculation on the likely effect of opting out with clause it was likely that he would make a televised statement with infinitive sales are likely to drop further Example sentencesExamples - It is likely that there are other chaperones that function in a similar manner.
- It is likely that the various schemes would be paid for with a mix of public cash and private investment.
- In the event of a pandemic, it is likely that only infected people will be given the antivirals.
- It is likely that most of the conspirators had details of the plot drip-fed to them as the need arose.
- It is likely that O'Hara will be the only member of that side selected for Walker Cup duty.
- If the London bid fails then it is likely that a decision on an alternative host city will be made by next spring.
- If the legs move at each strain it is likely that the cow will calve without too much trouble.
- An committee spokeswoman said it was likely that the York office would be closed by the end of the year.
- Priest's conclusion was that it was likely that the metal was present in the food chain.
- It is likely that many Australian homes do not even have a Bible, and those that do, leave it unread.
- It is likely that the coverage achieved in other surveillance systems is similar or lower.
- It is likely that only some of our sample will agree to participate in the research.
- If there were fewer drug addicts, it is likely that there would be fewer criminal offences.
- A pathologist said it was likely that the boy had the condition for several days.
- We are still finalising the design but it is likely that these specific premises will be affected.
- In that event it is likely that our own government will commit British troops in support.
- It is likely that many staff are already helping disabled customers as a matter of course.
- It is likely that any sanctions will be limited to travel bans and freezing of overseas accounts.
- It is likely that the unit will be based in their new control trailer, which is due to be completed next month.
- All being well, it is likely that we'll see Hedgehunter back to challenge next year.
Synonyms probable, distinctly possible, to be expected, odds-on, on, possible, credible, plausible, believable, within the bounds of possibility, imaginable expected, anticipated, natural, prospective, predictable, predicted, foreseeable, ten to one, liable sure, destined, fated in the wind, in the air informal on the cards, a pound to a penny 2Apparently suitable; promising. Example sentencesExamples - Most of the rest is likely to be in bonds and gilts with cash and property making up the balance.
- It is assumed that any blend of wines from the same property is likely to be harmonious.
- I was just in a foul mood or something like that, most likely, so accept my humblest apologies.
- It was my room, and the most likely reason he had stopped was that it was a bit of mess.
- People are more likely to accept risks when they feel that they are in the driving seat.
- He accepted the Pythagorean position that a successful fit is not likely to be a coincidence.
- He had visited each member state to find out what major project was likely to be accepted by all of them.
- They may reason that they are more likely to die from malaria or be bitten by a snake well before then.
- Lenhoff thinks defensive shares are likely to continue to do well for three reasons.
- One reason for Essex's likely limitation on imported labour is the high cost of housing.
- Had the report been accepted it is highly likely that the current crisis would have been avoided.
- The sources the government prefers are likely to be seriously biased for several reasons.
- I think a more likely reason is that many of his posts are failing the Boring Man in a Bar Test.
- The most likely reason is that it falls across some heat gradient in the house structure itself.
- One likely reason is that at the end of the day Bill just loves a good old-fashioned scrap.
- Use a bait that you have confidence in, and is likely to be accepted from the off.
- There is reason to suppose the Court of Appeal would be likely to reach any contrary view.
- His opinion is not binding but is likely to be accepted by the court later this year.
- Fay's apparent sweet tooth is likely to be rooted in a problem with blood sugar balance.
- Would it just have been more likely to have happened for some reason in this area?
Synonyms suitable, appropriate, apposite, fit, fitting, acceptable, proper, right reasonable, promising, hopeful likely to succeed, promising, talented, gifted informal up-and-coming
adverb ˈlʌɪkliˈlaɪkli Probably. we will most likely go to a bar Example sentencesExamples - On overseas pitches he has at times been the only Indian likely to get any wickets at all.
- By the laws of probability, the culprit was most likely an obnoxious American tourist.
- The case for affirmative action in Bermuda has likely been set back by years.
- Even if moving toward songwriting made it more likely I could cross over to the mainstream.
- I explained it was most likely the blonde hair making my skin colour look different in contrast.
- Now, it seems increasingly likely that you will soon topple sideways off the sofa arm and into the bin.
- More than likely they'll do this via the telecommunications grid through a phone socket.
- She thanked her supporters for running a "gentlemanly" campaign, but, she said, taking the high road on the campaign trail likely cost her votes.
- We thought, if we could get just one wall, it was likely we'd be able to hold on to it.
- Quite likely you'll end up with a broken arm, and at your age it will be a nasty break indeed.
Synonyms probably, in all probability, presumably, no doubt, doubtlessly informal like enough, (as) like as not
Usage In standard British English, when likely is used as an adverb it must be preceded by a submodifier such as very, most, or more, as in we will most likely see him later. In informal US English, use without a submodifier is very common and not regarded as incorrect, as in we will likely see him later Phrases Used to express disbelief of an account or excuse. ‘She's your lodger? A likely story!’ Example sentencesExamples - The gentleman told me his name was ‘John’, a likely story, I thought to myself and that it was his ‘sixth day at the gym’.
- Craccum: rehashing news from the Dominion Post on the legal action, and ignoring a likely story about why the University of Auckland was the best in the country - research wise at least.
- One of the characteristics of a reasonable explanation is that it be a likely story.
- We knew your Government was seeking overseas bases, so we cooked up a likely story.
- The Timaeus, however, presents itself not as serious cosmology but merely as a likely story, an example of the kind of account that Plato thinks is the right one to give; it is poetic and grandiose in style.
Synonyms unlikely, implausible, unbelievable, incredible, untenable, unacceptable, inconceivable
I won't take their pills, because as likely as not they'd poison me Example sentencesExamples - References to almost every field of knowledge, from archaeology to zoology, are as likely as not to be wrong.
- Stubborn insistence on such a strategy is as likely as not to end in one's own defeat.
- But in the big picture, it's as likely as not that he's looking to patch, not break, things up.
- However that may be, people who commit offences of this kind must understand that as likely as not, their lives and livelihood will be disrupted once the offence has been detected.
- Even if somebody out there ends up reading what we write, as likely as not we'll complain that they've missed the point.
- If you're passing a truck driver on the road today, give them a wave because as likely as not, they'll be mourning the death of a troubadour they called their own, Slim Dusty.
- Thus, part one of this book adopts the premise that natural theology shows it is at least as likely as not that there is a God of the sort argued for by classical theism.
- This is just as likely as not to be due to a badly organised office.
- Books on Italian Renaissance prints do not come along very often, and when they do, as likely as not they are catalogues.
- But a speeding motorist can kill an innocent child, and as likely as not, they will only face a small fine, points on their licence ó if they have one ó and a short driving ban.
informal Certainly not; I refuse. ‘Are you going home?’ ‘Not likely!’
Derivatives noun Yet another problem is the high degree of likeliness that a defendant possibly subject to the death penalty if found guilty will be found guilty. Example sentencesExamples - These questions address different aspects of confidence relating to the size of bribes, the possibility of additional requests, and the likeliness of opportunism.
- A final possibility centres around a likeliness that exercise success here was more due to the presence of fun and enjoyment, than the use of distraction.
- Without doubt, our likeliness to share personal stories and anecdotes makes for close relationships which have their own rewards.
- However, the subjects in this study had a mean age of approximately 83 years and lived in an assisted living facility where there is a decreased likeliness that they would regularly interact with dogs.
Origin Middle English: from Old Norse líkligr, from líkr (see like1). Definition of likely in US English: likelyadjectiveˈlaɪkliˈlīklē 1Such as well might happen or be true; probable. it was likely that he would make a televised statement sales are likely to drop further the likely effects of the drought on sugar beet yields Example sentencesExamples - It is likely that the coverage achieved in other surveillance systems is similar or lower.
- It is likely that only some of our sample will agree to participate in the research.
- It is likely that O'Hara will be the only member of that side selected for Walker Cup duty.
- We are still finalising the design but it is likely that these specific premises will be affected.
- It is likely that most of the conspirators had details of the plot drip-fed to them as the need arose.
- It is likely that many staff are already helping disabled customers as a matter of course.
- An committee spokeswoman said it was likely that the York office would be closed by the end of the year.
- A pathologist said it was likely that the boy had the condition for several days.
- It is likely that the unit will be based in their new control trailer, which is due to be completed next month.
- It is likely that there are other chaperones that function in a similar manner.
- In the event of a pandemic, it is likely that only infected people will be given the antivirals.
- Priest's conclusion was that it was likely that the metal was present in the food chain.
- It is likely that the various schemes would be paid for with a mix of public cash and private investment.
- If the legs move at each strain it is likely that the cow will calve without too much trouble.
- All being well, it is likely that we'll see Hedgehunter back to challenge next year.
- In that event it is likely that our own government will commit British troops in support.
- It is likely that any sanctions will be limited to travel bans and freezing of overseas accounts.
- If the London bid fails then it is likely that a decision on an alternative host city will be made by next spring.
- It is likely that many Australian homes do not even have a Bible, and those that do, leave it unread.
- If there were fewer drug addicts, it is likely that there would be fewer criminal offences.
Synonyms probable, distinctly possible, to be expected, odds-on, on, possible, credible, plausible, believable, within the bounds of possibility, imaginable 2Apparently suitable; promising. Example sentencesExamples - His opinion is not binding but is likely to be accepted by the court later this year.
- Had the report been accepted it is highly likely that the current crisis would have been avoided.
- I think a more likely reason is that many of his posts are failing the Boring Man in a Bar Test.
- Most of the rest is likely to be in bonds and gilts with cash and property making up the balance.
- They may reason that they are more likely to die from malaria or be bitten by a snake well before then.
- He had visited each member state to find out what major project was likely to be accepted by all of them.
- The most likely reason is that it falls across some heat gradient in the house structure itself.
- There is reason to suppose the Court of Appeal would be likely to reach any contrary view.
- One reason for Essex's likely limitation on imported labour is the high cost of housing.
- Would it just have been more likely to have happened for some reason in this area?
- He accepted the Pythagorean position that a successful fit is not likely to be a coincidence.
- People are more likely to accept risks when they feel that they are in the driving seat.
- Use a bait that you have confidence in, and is likely to be accepted from the off.
- It is assumed that any blend of wines from the same property is likely to be harmonious.
- It was my room, and the most likely reason he had stopped was that it was a bit of mess.
- The sources the government prefers are likely to be seriously biased for several reasons.
- I was just in a foul mood or something like that, most likely, so accept my humblest apologies.
- Fay's apparent sweet tooth is likely to be rooted in a problem with blood sugar balance.
- Lenhoff thinks defensive shares are likely to continue to do well for three reasons.
- One likely reason is that at the end of the day Bill just loves a good old-fashioned scrap.
Synonyms suitable, appropriate, apposite, fit, fitting, acceptable, proper, right likely to succeed, promising, talented, gifted
adverbˈlaɪkliˈlīklē Probably. we will most likely go to a bar Example sentencesExamples - Even if moving toward songwriting made it more likely I could cross over to the mainstream.
- I explained it was most likely the blonde hair making my skin colour look different in contrast.
- Quite likely you'll end up with a broken arm, and at your age it will be a nasty break indeed.
- She thanked her supporters for running a "gentlemanly" campaign, but, she said, taking the high road on the campaign trail likely cost her votes.
- More than likely they'll do this via the telecommunications grid through a phone socket.
- The case for affirmative action in Bermuda has likely been set back by years.
- By the laws of probability, the culprit was most likely an obnoxious American tourist.
- We thought, if we could get just one wall, it was likely we'd be able to hold on to it.
- Now, it seems increasingly likely that you will soon topple sideways off the sofa arm and into the bin.
- On overseas pitches he has at times been the only Indian likely to get any wickets at all.
Synonyms probably, in all probability, presumably, no doubt, doubtlessly
Phrases Used to express disbelief of an account or excuse. Gone running, has he? A likely story! Example sentencesExamples - The Timaeus, however, presents itself not as serious cosmology but merely as a likely story, an example of the kind of account that Plato thinks is the right one to give; it is poetic and grandiose in style.
- One of the characteristics of a reasonable explanation is that it be a likely story.
- The gentleman told me his name was ‘John’, a likely story, I thought to myself and that it was his ‘sixth day at the gym’.
- Craccum: rehashing news from the Dominion Post on the legal action, and ignoring a likely story about why the University of Auckland was the best in the country - research wise at least.
- We knew your Government was seeking overseas bases, so we cooked up a likely story.
Synonyms unlikely, implausible, unbelievable, incredible, untenable, unacceptable, inconceivable
I won't take their pills, because as likely as not they'd poison me Example sentencesExamples - References to almost every field of knowledge, from archaeology to zoology, are as likely as not to be wrong.
- This is just as likely as not to be due to a badly organised office.
- Stubborn insistence on such a strategy is as likely as not to end in one's own defeat.
- But in the big picture, it's as likely as not that he's looking to patch, not break, things up.
- Books on Italian Renaissance prints do not come along very often, and when they do, as likely as not they are catalogues.
- Even if somebody out there ends up reading what we write, as likely as not we'll complain that they've missed the point.
- But a speeding motorist can kill an innocent child, and as likely as not, they will only face a small fine, points on their licence ó if they have one ó and a short driving ban.
- Thus, part one of this book adopts the premise that natural theology shows it is at least as likely as not that there is a God of the sort argued for by classical theism.
- However that may be, people who commit offences of this kind must understand that as likely as not, their lives and livelihood will be disrupted once the offence has been detected.
- If you're passing a truck driver on the road today, give them a wave because as likely as not, they'll be mourning the death of a troubadour they called their own, Slim Dusty.
informal Certainly not; I refuse. “Are you going home?” “Not likely!”
Origin Middle English: from Old Norse líkligr, from líkr (see like). |