Synonyms for likely
- adjective
- adverb
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
2. Probable — probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
probable, possible, like, credible, feasible, potential, presumable, believable, reasonable, conceivable, allowable, verisimilar rare
3. Apt — appropriate, suitable; believable; promising, having a good potential
apt, suitable, appropriate, good-looking, comely formal, agreeable, pleasing, proper, fitting
Other
promising, suppositious rare
Adverb
probably, supposedly, mostly IN, reportedly, ostensibly, putatively, purportedly, reputedly, allegedly, supposably, belike dated UK, rumoredly rare
Definitions
- adj. 1
Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
Rain is likely later this afternoon.
- adj. 2
Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable.
Do you think there's likely to be snow?
- adj. 3
Appropriate, suitable; believable; promising, having a good potential.
Jones is a likely candidate for management.
- adv. 1
Probably.
Likely he’ll win the election in this economy.
Related words
- Word family
- likelihood likeliness
- Phrases
- more than likely
Choose the right word
Likely is a word with a wide range of usage, but always implying the belief that the thing is, or will be, true; it is often used with the infinitive, as the other words of this list can not be; as, it is likely to happen.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- possible I'd like to stay one more night. Is that possible?
- probable It is probable that he will win the speech contest.
- suitable This programme is not suitable for your age group.
- promising Tom says he doesn't remember promising to do that.
By length
- 3 letters
- apt1
- 4 letters
- like1
- 6 letters
- mostly2, proper2, liable3, comely2, belike
- 7 letters
- fitting2
- 8 letters
- possible3, probably3, suitable3, probable3, credible3, pleasing2, feasible3
- 9 letters
- potential3, promising3, allegedly4, agreeable4, allowable4, proximate3, reputedly4, rumoredly
- 10 letters
- reasonable4, reportedly4, supposedly4, ostensibly4, believable4, putatively, presumable, supposably
- 11 letters
- appropriate4, conceivable4, purportedly4, verisimilar
- 12 letters
- suppositious
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (mostly2 = 2 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- vraisemblable
- Italiano
- verosimile
- Español
- probable