unlikely
not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
holding little prospect of success; unpromising; likely to fail: He is an unlikely candidate for reelection.
not ingratiating; objectionable.
in an unlikely way.
Origin of unlikely
1Other words from unlikely
- un·like·li·ness, noun
Words Nearby unlikely
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use unlikely in a sentence
Once approved, a vaccine is unlikely to be widely available for several months.
6 questions that must be answered in the race for a vaccine | jakemeth | September 15, 2020 | FortuneIn such efforts, Russia is unlikely to encounter resistance from the Belarus security apparatus, which probably views its interests and future tied to maintenance of tight central control.
As Vox’s Umair Irfan reports, it’s still unlikely that a vaccine will be authorized for use by then.
A third of Americans might refuse a Covid-19 vaccine. How screwed are we? | Brian Resnick | September 4, 2020 | VoxAmerica is unlikely to know its presidential winner on election night due to the expected surge in mail-in votes.
A survey conducted in late June found that 65% of Americans said they are “very unlikely” to return to theaters immediately after they reopen.
Will ‘Tenet’ revive U.S. movie theaters as it’s finally released? | dzanemorris | September 3, 2020 | Fortune
Harris is unlikely to see a challenge from Villaraigosa, either.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races | David Freedlander | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAt least 29 fellow Republicans must vote against Boehner for a second ballot to be reached, and that seems very unlikely.
Almost forty years later, it seems unlikely this will ever be the case.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones) | Rich Goldstein | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWe tend to think not, but the rise of King, Kennedy, and Lincoln was unlikely, too.
It was Orlando vs. Justin in an Ibiza melee with two highly unlikely opposing parties.
The Bloom-Bieber Brawl We Didn’t Know We Needed | Kevin O’Keeffe | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe magistrate appeared to think such an occurrence not at all unlikely, as he committed him to prison for three months.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousThe converse seems to me unlikely; however, they are not remarkable for originality.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems | Geoffrey ChaucerMarius looks elsewhere for a wife—unless mademoiselle of her own free will should elect to wed him—a thing unlikely.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniFor your sake, old fellow, I hope she won't succeed, but I have known more unlikely things happen even than this.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3) | Charles James WillsSara Lee might have fought the War Office single-handed and won out, but it is extremely unlikely.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts Rinehart
British Dictionary definitions for unlikely
/ (ʌnˈlaɪklɪ) /
not likely; improbable
Derived forms of unlikely
- unlikeliness or unlikelihood, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with unlikely
see in the unlikely event.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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