likely 1 of 2

adjective

ˈlī-klē How to pronounce likely (audio)
Definition of likelynext
1
as in probable
having a high chance of occurring if you don't graduate from high school, your likely fate is a low-paying job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in promising
having qualities which inspire hope this looks like a likely spot for good trout fishing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in plausible
worthy of being accepted as true or reasonable we didn't find her excuse a very likely story

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in pretty
very pleasing to look at a likely gal such as yourself should have no trouble getting a date

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

likely

2 of 2

adverb

as in probably
by reasonable assumption the picnic will likely be cancelled if the storm continues

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of likely
Adjective
Additionally, a dog that enjoys its time with its owner is more likely to listen. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Showers and thunderstorms become increasingly likely Thursday afternoon and evening, and possibly during the morning drive. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Lake’s drop of about 200 students, far smaller than in neighboring districts, likely reflects the limited number of private schools in the county, making vouchers less viable for many families, officials have said. — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Marsee likely will need to compete with prospect Cam Cannarella for the center-field job. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for likely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likely
  1. probable
  2. promising
  3. plausible
  4. pretty
  5. probably
  6. possible
  7. bright
  8. credible
Adjective
  • That description equally well applies to our probable timeline on this planet, the way things are progressing.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The more probable future is a heterogeneous computing environment where classical high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and quantum processors collaborate.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of probable
Adjective
  • With Adults, being funny is what matters most, and in that regard, this is a very promising premiere.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Smaller payouts scare off potential investors, meaning promising treatments are often left on a shelf.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of promising
Adjective
  • Lauren, at least, seemed like the more plausible repeat customer.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When generating text, large language models pick each next word from a set of plausible candidates.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of plausible
Adjective
  • This is an analog way to get friends together without putting the pressure on yourself to cook an entire meal or set the prettiest tablescape.
    — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026
  • This pretty fixture works hard as a table lamp, candle warmer, and decor piece, offering a smoke-free way to add ambient light and fragrance to your space without the fire hazard.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of pretty
Adverb
  • There are no Cubs players involved in the TikTok series, the Cubs told me, which is unfortunate since Crow-Armstrong has acting in his DNA — his mother and father are both actors — and probably would be at least as good as Damon.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Tom Even non-football fans can probably guess who this one is about.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of probably
Adjective
  • Sunlight Place the plant in a sunny window, south-facing if possible, and give it four to six hours of sunlight each day.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Carley Garner, a commodity market strategist and broker at DeCarley Trading, said smaller futures and oil ETFs such as the United States Oil Fund (ticker USO) have made speculation possible for traders at almost any level of experience or funding.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of possible
Adjective
  • Put the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light, keep the soil evenly moist, and open the bag once each day to let in fresh air.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Mystery Men Throw it back to the Y2K era with this 1999 comedy starring a plethora of the era’s brightest comedic talents, including Ben Stiller, Kel Mitchell, Janeane Garofolo, and Paul Reubens.
    — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of bright
Adjective
  • While independence allows central bankers to make decisions without short-term political interference from presidents wanting to juice the economy, credible external scrutiny helps provide the democratic legitimacy for that independence.
    — Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The difference is that EB-1A rewards objective distinction, while NIW rewards a persuasive national-interest case tied to a credible plan.
    — Lorraine D'Alessio, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of credible

Browse Nearby Words

likelihood
likely
liken
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Likely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likely. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All