- unlikely
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adjective
Date: 14th century
1. not likely ; improbable <an unlikely outcome> 2. likely to fail ; unpromising
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
unlikely
Look at other dictionaries:
Unlikely — Un*like ly, a. 1. Not likely; improbable; not to be reasonably expected; as, an unlikely event; the thing you mention is very unlikely. [1913 Webster] 2. Not holding out a prospect of success; likely to fail; unpromising; as, unlikely means.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Unlikely — Un*like ly, adv. In an unlikely manner. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
unlikely — [unlīk′lē] adj. [ME unlikly, prob. based on ON ūlīkligr] 1. not likely to happen or be true; improbable 2. not likely to succeed; not promising adv. improbably [he may, not unlikely, join us] unlikelihood n. unlikeliness … English World dictionary
unlikely — index disputable, doubtful, dubious, implausible, impossible, incredible, infeasible, unbelievable, unfit … Law dictionary
unlikely — late 14c., not likely to occur, from UN (Cf. un ) (1) + LIKELY (Cf. likely). Cf. O.N. ulikligr, M.Da. uligelig. Meaning not likely to be true is recorded from 1590s … Etymology dictionary
unlikely — [adj] not probable absurd, contrary, doubtful, dubious, faint, implausible, improbable, inconceivable, incredible, not likely, out of the ordinary, outside chance, questionable, rare, remote, slight, strange, unbelievable, unconvincing, unheard… … New thesaurus
unlikely — ► ADJECTIVE (unlikelier, unlikeliest) ▪ not likely; improbable. DERIVATIVES unlikelihood noun … English terms dictionary
unlikely */*/*/ — UK [ʌnˈlaɪklɪ] / US adjective Word forms unlikely : adjective unlikely comparative unlikelier superlative unlikeliest 1) a) not likely to happen I think her coming back is a pretty unlikely prospect. unlikely to do something: He s unlikely ever… … English dictionary
unlikely — un|like|ly [ ʌn laıkli ] adjective *** 1. ) not likely to happen: I think her coming back is a pretty unlikely prospect. unlikely to do something: He s unlikely ever to find a job again. unlikely (that): It seems unlikely that she will make the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
unlikely — un|like|ly W2S2 [ʌnˈlaıkli] adj 1.) not likely to happen ▪ Donna might be able to come tomorrow, but it s very unlikely . unlikely to do sth ▪ The weather is unlikely to improve over the next few days. it is unlikely (that) ▪ It s unlikely that… … Dictionary of contemporary English
unlikely — adj. 1) (cannot stand alone) unlikely to + inf. (they are unlikely to accept our invitation) 2) unlikely that + clause (it s unlikely that she will attend) * * * [ʌn laɪklɪ] unlikely that + clause (it s unlikely that she will attend) (cannot… … Combinatory dictionary
