likely

Likely is an English word used as an adjective and an adverb to express probability or plausibility. As an adjective, it describes a noun as having a high probability, as in a likely candidate or a likely outcome. As an adverb, it modifies a verb or verb phrase, as in It is likely to rain or They will likely arrive on time. In many contexts, it can also appear in the fixed phrase most likely.

Usage notes include the distinction between likely and probably. While both convey probability, likely often sounds more formal or cautious, and is more common in written language. Probably is frequently preferred in everyday speech. The structure most commonly joined with likely includes to: a person or event is likely to occur, or a claim is likely to be true. The phrase it is likely that introduces a clause, equivalent in meaning to it is probable that. The opposite of likely is unlikely, and related vocabulary includes likelihood (a noun for probability) and probability or odds in more technical contexts.

Etymology traces likely to the adjective form of like, with the adverbial suffix -ly, evolving to mean plausible or probable in Middle to Early Modern English. The word has remained a staple in discussions of risk, forecasts, and everyday judgment, often accompanied by qualifiers such as very, quite, or highly to adjust emphasis.

See also: likelihood, probability, probably, improbable.