Advertisement
Advertisement
probably
[ prob-uh-blee ]
adverb
- in all likelihood; very likely:
He will probably attend.
probably
/ ˈprɒbəblɪ /
adverb
- sentence modifier; not used with a negative or in a question in all likelihood or probability
I'll probably see you tomorrow
sentence substitute
- I believe such a thing or situation may be the case
Example Sentences
Trump probably cares less about the prayers and more that Walters lines his pockets.
If I could have lived my middle school life in “Wicked” clothes, wearing “Wicked” makeup, even eating “Wicked” food, I probably would have.
Baroness Theresa May, who was prime minister from 2016 to 2019, previously said: "I think we probably should have taken a stronger response to that at the time and given a clearer message to Russia."
“If I had run away from the nuclear forces base, then the local FSB Security Service would’ve reacted decisively and I probably wouldn’t have been able to leave the country,” he said.
“I’m thinking, ‘He’s the OB, he’s probably seen this a thousand times, he probably knows what’s right,’” Hope said.
Advertisement
More About Probably
What does probably mean?
Probably means most likely or in all likelihood.
Probably is the adverb form of the adjective probable, meaning “very likely to occur or be true.” Probably is used when you think something will happen or turn out to be true, but you’re not certain enough to say it definitely will.
Example: My flight will probably arrive within the next few hours, but I can’t guarantee it.
Where does probably come from?
Probably came into popular use in the 1520s. It is formed from the word probable and the suffix -ly, which is used to make it into an adverb. Probable comes from the Latin probābilis, which means “likely,” “literally,” or “capable of standing a test,” and is equivalent to the verb probā(re) “to test.” This word gives us both probe and prove.
Probably is commonly used to express that you think something is likely to happen (as in He’ll probably be late) or could prove to be true (as in It probably costs more than that, so you should bring some extra money to be safe). In all cases, it implies that you’re not 100 percent sure. It’s stronger than maybe, but it still indicates doubt. It’s very rarely used with a negative or as part of a question. However, it can be used as a sentence substitute, meaning it can take the place of a full sentence to answer a question, as in Have you learned all you need to know about this word? Probably.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to probably?
- probable (adjective)
- quasiprobably (adverb)
What are some synonyms for probably?
- likely
- most likely
- in all likelihood
- in all probability
What are some words that share a root or word element with probably?
What are some words that often get used in discussing probably?
How is probably used in real life?
Probably is most commonly used in cases where you’re confident that something will happen or turn out to be true, but you can’t say for sure.
if somebody consistently talks badly about you but they (or others) just say "it's just a joke", they're probably not your friend
— Jason Zimmerman (@MVG_Mew2King) March 15, 2020
my next song out is probably my favorite song I’ve made in a long time
— Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) December 10, 2019
Just saw @LittleWomen, which I’ll probably see a dozen times. It’s completely stunning and doctors should prescribe it. Go go go.
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 29, 2019
Try using probably!
Is probably used correctly in the following sentence?
I’ll probably fall asleep on the couch tonight.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse