Cool MateArguably vs Likely vs Possibly vs Presumably
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Arguably
Likely
Possibly
Presumably
| Arguably | Likely | Possibly | Presumably | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɑːɡjuəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːrɡjuəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɒsəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːsəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/prɪˈzjuːməbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prɪˈzuːməbli/"]/ |
| Meaning | It can be said that something is true. | It probably will happen. | maybe or maybe not; not sure | It is likely or expected that something is true. |
| Example | He is arguably the best actor of his generation. | It is likely that it will rain tomorrow. | It could possibly rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella. | Presumably this is where the accident happened. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A2 | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adjective | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | arguably the best, arguably true, arguably effective | appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very | possibly true, possibly available, possibly dangerous | presumably true, presumably based, presumably understood |
| Antonyms | undeniably, certainly, definitely, incontrovertibly | unlikely, improbable | definitely, certainly | doubtfully, questionably |
| Common mistakes | Using 'arguably' too strongly without supporting evidence., Confusing it with 'arguably' as a noun., Forgetting to follow it with a specific claim or statement. | 'Likely' vs 'likelihood': Confused the adjective with the noun., 'Likely' placement: Wrongly placed before the verb instead of before 'to'., 'Unlikely' usage: Misusing 'unlikely' in positive contexts. | 'Possibly' is often confused with 'probably'—they mean different things., Learners may omit 'possibly' in sentences where it's needed., Some learners incorrectly use 'possibly' with the gerund form (e.g., 'possibly going'). | Used in informal situations where a casual word would be better., Confused with 'presume', which has a different grammatical structure., Overused in statements where certainty is needed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'arguably' when making a statement that can be supported with evidence. It is often used in discussions or debates but may be too strong for casual conversation. | Use 'likely' to express probability in neutral contexts. Avoid in very formal writing; use 'probable' instead. For informal contexts, 'likely' is suitable. | Use 'possibly' when you want to express uncertainty or doubt about something. It's generally neutral, suitable for both spoken and written contexts, but avoid it in very formal writing where you might prefer words like 'potentially'. | Use 'presumably' when you think something is true but don't have definite proof. It’s more formal than using 'probably' and is often used in writing or serious conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Arguably vs Likely vs Possibly vs Presumably
What's the difference between Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Presumably?
Arguably: It can be said that something is true. Likely: It probably will happen. Possibly: maybe or maybe not; not sure Presumably: It is likely or expected that something is true.
Which is more common: Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Presumably?
Likely is the most common in everyday English.
Are Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Presumably the same CEFR level?
Arguably: C1, Likely: A2, Possibly: B1, Presumably: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Presumably?
Arguably: adverb, Likely: adjective, Possibly: adverb, Presumably: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Arguably: He is arguably the best actor of his generation. Likely: It is likely that it will rain tomorrow. Possibly: It could possibly rain tomorrow, so take an umbrella. Presumably: Presumably this is where the accident happened.
Can I use Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Presumably interchangeably?
Not always. Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Presumably are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.