unlikely
pronunciation
How to pronounce unlikely in British English:
UK [ʌnˈlaɪkli]
How to pronounce unlikely in American English:
US [ʌnˈlaɪkli]
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- Adjective:
- not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
- has little chance of being the case or coming about
- having a probability to low to inspire belief
Word Origin
- unlikely (adj.)
- late 14c., "not likely to occur," from un- (1) "not" + likely (adj.). Similar formation in Old Norse ulikligr, Middle Danish uligelig. Meaning "not likely to be true" is recorded from 1590s. Related: Unlikeliness; unlikelihood.
- unlikely (adv.)
- mid-15c., "improbably," from un- (1) "not" + likely (adv.) (see likely (adj.)).
Example
- 1. Spending growth is unlikely to resume soon .
- 2. But this is extremely unlikely to happen .
- 3. Tuvalu has become an unlikely global hero .
- 4. Such an antagonistic gesture is unlikely .
- 5. Actually , volcanoes aren 't that sneaky and this type of destruction is very unlikely .