# likely

Pronunciation: say "LYK-lee" /ˈlaɪkli/

## Adjective

1. Probable; having a good chance of happening or being true, or reasonably expected ('the likely outcome'; 'likely to rain').
   - Simple: Probably going to happen or be true.
   - _A second interview is likely if the panel agrees on her._
   - _The most likely explanation is a simple wiring fault._
3. Suitable or promising; showing good potential for the purpose at hand.
   - Simple: Seeming right for a purpose, or full of promise.
   - _The recruiter spotted several likely prospects at the job fair._
   - _After an hour of searching, they finally found a likely place to set up camp, flat and close to the stream._
4. Plausible; believable enough to fall within the bounds of credibility.
   - Simple: Easy to believe and sounding true.
   - _“You were stuck in traffic for three hours? A likely story,” she said, rolling her eyes._
   - _At first the manager's account of the missing money seemed likely enough, but the auditors soon found holes in it._

## Adverb

2. Probably; in all probability.
   - Simple: Probably. Used when you expect something to happen or be true.
   - _We'll likely see the final results tomorrow morning._
   - _Traffic will likely build up once the game lets out._

## Noun

5. A person or thing regarded as likely to be suitable, successful, or chosen.
   - Simple: A person or thing that seems likely to succeed or be chosen.
   - _Before the draft, the local paper ran a list of likelies for each team's first pick._
   - _Every scout in the league had the young pitcher down as a likely._

## Adjective

6. Attractive; pleasant in appearance. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Good-looking and pleasant to see.
7. Similar; resembling another thing or person; alike. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Much the same as something else, or alike.

## Adverb

8. In the same or a similar manner. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In the same way, or in a way that is almost the same.

## Origin

**Meanings 1, 3–7** — This adjective goes back to Middle English likely, which drew on two probably independent formations: Old English ġelīclīċ ("suitable") and Old Norse líkligr ("likely"). It amounts to like plus the adjectival suffix -ly.
**Meanings 2, 8** — Proto-Germanic *līkalīka gave both Old English ġelīclīċe ("equally") and Old Norse líkliga ("likely"), the sources of Middle English likely and so of this adverb. It amounts to like plus the adverbial suffix -ly.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/likely (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).