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Likely and unlikely

Likely and unlikely are adjectives. We use them to say that something will probably happen or not happen in the future. We can use them before a noun, or with the verbs be, seem and appear:

  • What is the most likely outcome of the referendum?
  • It seems unlikely that inflation will fall below 3% this year.

We can follow likely or unlikely by a verb in the *to-*infinitive form:

  • The economy is likely to recover slowly after the long recession.
  • Are you likely to want this cardboard box or shall I throw it out?
  • The weather seems unlikely to change over the next few days.

Instead of unlikely, we can say not likely:

  • Zoe’s not likely to arrive before eight o’clock. She doesn’t finish work till seven.

We can also follow likely and unlikely by a that-clause with will. This pattern is less common than *likely/unlikely + to-*infinitive:

  • It is likely that there will be a general election next year. or There is likely to be a general election next year.
  • It seems unlikely that space travel for ordinary people will become common in the near future.

We can use adverbs such as very, quite, highly and extremely before likely and unlikely to make their meaning stronger:

  • The government is very likely to propose changes to the income tax system soon.
  • I think it’s highly unlikely that she’ll get into university with the test scores she has.

We can compare how probable different things are using likely and unlikely with as … as, more, (the) most, less and (the) least:

  • Steve is as likely to get the job as Dora. They’re both very well qualified.
  • People are more likely to take climate change seriously if they can understand the economic consequences for their own lives.
  • Kevin is (the) least likely to want to get married of all his friends.

In American English, and more and more in British English, likely is used as a mid-position adverb (like probably in British English), most commonly between will and a main verb:

  • The new regulations will likely result in many people losing their jobs.

Typical error​

It is likely to does not mean the same as it is easy to:

  • It’s easy to forget to save your work on the computer.
  • Not: It’s likely to forget …
  • It’s easy to confuse mushrooms you can eat with poisonous ones.
  • Not: It’s likely to confuse …