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Webster 1913 Edition


Likely

Like′ly

,
Adj.
[
Com
par.
Likelier
(līk′lĭ-ẽr)
;
sup
erl.
Likeliest
.]
[That is,
like-like
. See
Like
,
Adj.
]
1.
Worthy of belief; probable; credible;
as, a
likely
story
.
It seems
likely
that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous.
Johnson.
2.
Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; – followed by the infinitive;
as, it is
likely
to rain
.
3.
Similar; like; alike.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
4.
Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome.
Shak.
Milton.
5.
Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising;
as, a
likely
young man; a
likely
servant.

Like′ly

,
adv.
In all probability; probably.
While man was innocent he was
likely
ignorant of nothing that imported him to know.
Glanvill.

Webster 1828 Edition


Likely

LI'KELY

,
Adj.
[that is, like-like.]
1.
Probable; that may be rationally though or believed to have taken place in time past, or to be true now or hereafter; such as is more reasonable than the contrary. A likely story, is one which evidence, or the circumstances of the case render probable, and therefore credible.
2.
Such as may be liked; pleasing; as a likely man or woman.
[This use of likely is not obsolete, as Johnson affirms, nor is it vulgar. But the English and their descendants in America differ in the application. The English apply the word to external appearance, and with them, likely is equivalent to handsome, well formed; as a likely man, a likely horse. In America, the word is usually applied to the endowments of the mind, or to pleasing accomplishments. With us, a likely man, is a man of good character and talents, or of good dispositions or accomplishments, that render him pleasing or respectable.]

LI'KELY

,
adv.
Probably.
While man was innocent, he was likely ignorant of nothing important for him to know.

Definition 2024


likely

likely

English

Adjective

likely (comparative likelier or more likely, superlative likeliest or most likely)

  1. probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
    Rain is likely later this afternoon.
  2. probable
    They are likely to become angry with him.
    • 2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, in New York Times:
      People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?
  3. appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential
    Jones is a likely candidate for management.
  4. plausible; Within the realm of credibility
    not a very likely excuse.
    • 2011 December 19, Kerry Brown, “Kim Jong-il obituary”, in The Guardian:
      The DPRK propagated an extraordinary tale of his birth occurring on Mount Baekdu, one of Korea's most revered sites, being accompanied by shooting stars in the sky. It is more likely that he was born in a small village in the USSR, while his father was serving as a Soviet-backed general during the second world war.
  5. promising; Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome
    a likely topic for investigation.
  6. attractive; pleasant
    found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
  7. (as predicate, followed by to and infinitive) Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined.
    He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
    • 2011 November 3, Chris Bevan, “Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
      In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages -with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.
  8. (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

Synonyms

  • (as predicate, followed by "to" and infinitive): liable

Translations

Adverb

likely (comparative more likely, superlative most likely) (US)

  1. (obsolete) Similarly.
  2. Probably.
    • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:
      Thinks I to myself, Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer cottage and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.
    Likely he'll win the election in this economy.

Usage notes

  • The adverb is a US usage and does not appear in British English except under direct influence of US practice.
  • As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as most or quite.
  • Some usage guides consider adverbial likely - instead of probably - to be poor style and an artificial, sometimes pretentious way to imply a sense of erudition. One can also opt for the somewhat rarer adverbial form likelily.

Translations

Noun

likely (plural likelies)

  1. Something or somebody considered likely.

Statistics

Most common English words before 1923: attempt · soft · officers · #832: likely · beneath · conversation · music