'Likely' definitions:
Definition of 'likely'
(from WordNet)
adverb
With considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are headed for war" [syn: probably, likely, in all likelihood, in all probability, belike]
adjective
Has a good chance of being the case or of coming about; "these services are likely to be available to us all before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for investigation"; "likely candidates for the job" [ant: unlikely]
adjective
Likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss" [syn: probable, likely] [ant: improbable, unlikely]
adjective
Expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients" [syn: likely, potential]
adjective
Within the realm of credibility; "not a very likely excuse"
Definition of 'Likely'
From: GCIDE
- Likely \Like"ly\, a. [Compar. Likelier (l[imac]k"l[i^]*[~e]r); superl. Likeliest.] [That is, like-like. See Like, a.]
- 1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story. [1913 Webster]
- It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; -- followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain. [1913 Webster]
- 3. Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
- 4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome. --Shak. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant. [1913 Webster]
- 6. Improbable; unlikely; -- used ironically; as, a likely story. [informal] [PJC]
Definition of 'Likely'
From: GCIDE
- Likely \Like"ly\, adv. In all probability; probably. [1913 Webster]
- While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of nothing that imported him to know. --Glanvill. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'likely'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- a propos,
- able,
- acceptable,
- ad rem,
- adapted,
- advantageous,
- advisable,
- agreeable,
- amply endowed,
- applicable,
- apposite,
- appropriate,
- apropos,
- apt,
- apt to,
- assumably,
- becoming,
- befitting,
- bent,
- bonny,
- braw,
- built,
- built for comfort,
- buxom,
- by all odds,
- callipygian,
- callipygous,
- cogitable,
- comely,
- conceivable,
- conceivably possible,
- congruous,
- contingent,
- convenient,
- couleur de rose,
- credible,
- curvaceous,
- curvy,
- decent,
- desirable,
- disposed,
- disposed to,
- dispositioned,
- dollars to doughnuts,
- doubtless,
- doubtlessly,
- dovetailing,
- earthly,
- encouraging,
- expected,
- expedient,
- fair,
- favorable,
- favored,
- favorite,
- feasible,
- felicitous,
- fit,
- fitted,
- fitten,
- fitting,
- foreseeable,
- fructuous,
- geared,
- given,
- goddess-like,
- good,
- good-looking,
- goodly,
- happy,
- hopeful,
- humanly possible,
- imaginable,
- in all likelihood,
- in all probability,
- in the cards,
- in the mood,
- inclined,
- inclined to,
- indubitably,
- Junoesque,
- just right,
- liable,
- liable to,
- like enough,
- lovely to behold,
- meet,
- meshing,
- minded,
- mortal,
- most likely,
- no doubt,
- odds-on,
- on the button,
- opportune,
- pat,
- personable,
- plausible,
- pleasing,
- pneumatic,
- politic,
- possible,
- potential,
- predictable,
- predictable within limits,
- predisposed,
- presentable,
- presumable,
- presumably,
- presumptive,
- presumptively,
- probable,
- probably,
- profitable,
- promising,
- prone,
- proper,
- qualified,
- reasonable,
- recommendable,
- relevant,
- right,
- rose-colored,
- roseate,
- rosy,
- seasonable,
- seemly,
- shapely,
- sightly,
- slender,
- sortable,
- stacked,
- statistically probable,
- statuesque,
- suitable,
- suited,
- suiting,
- tailored,
- ten to one,
- tenable,
- thinkable,
- timely,
- to be desired,
- to the point,
- to the purpose,
- undoubtedly,
- useful,
- verisimilar,
- very like,
- very likely,
- well-built,
- well-favored,
- well-formed,
- well-made,
- well-proportioned,
- well-shaped,
- well-stacked,
- well-timed,
- wise,
- worthwhile
Words containing 'Likely'
- Had like,
- Like,
- Liked,
- Likeness,
- Liking,
- On liking,
- Such like,
- To like of,
- likely to,
- the like,
- the likes of,
- Janus like,
- Like blazes,
- Like figures,
- Like mad,
- act like,
- feel like,
- goddess like,
- like a Trojan,
- like a shot,
- like a trooper,
- like an expert,
- like clockwork,
- like crazy,
- like fun,
- like hell,
- like kings,
- like minded,
- like royalty,
- like sin,
- like the devil,
- like thunder,
- look like,
- sound like,
- very much like,
- Like-minded,
- Snail-like,
- Thrall-like,
- Well-liking,
- Wise-like,
- antler-like,
- baby-like,
- belt-like,
- candy-like,
- cell-like,
- chisel-like,
- city-like,
- comb-like,
- comet-like,
- custard-like,
- dagger-like,
- drill-like,
- drop like flies,
- drum-like,
- ear-like,
- fall like dominoes,
- fang-like,
- feel like a million,
- file-like,
- flipper-like,
- fork-like,
- gauze-like,
- glass-like,
- gum-like,
- lash-like,
- leaf-like,
- like blue murder,
- lung-like,
- lymphoblast-like,
- machine-like,
- maple-like,
- olive-like,
- pancake-like,
- petal-like,
- plush-like,
- rudder-like,
- saw-like,
- souffle-like,
- spade-like,
- to rise like a phoenix,
- trumpet-like,
- umbel-like,
- wafer-like,
- well-liked,
- wheel-like,
- yokel-like,
- bell-like call,
- feel like a million dollars,
- tea-like drink