Cool MateLikely vs Probable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Likely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Probable
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Most common: Likely
| Likely | Probable | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈprɒbəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprɑːbəbl/"]/ |
| Meaning | It probably will happen. | likely to happen or be true |
| Example | It is likely that it will rain tomorrow. | the probable cause/explanation/outcome |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very | be, look, seem, highly, very, increasingly |
| Antonyms | unlikely, improbable | improbable, unlikely |
| Common mistakes | '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. | Confused with 'probably' which indicates uncertainty., Used with incorrect verb forms, e.g., 'probable that it rains' instead of 'probable it will rain'. |
| Usage notes | Use 'likely' to express probability in neutral contexts. Avoid in very formal writing; use 'probable' instead. For informal contexts, 'likely' is suitable. | Used to indicate a strong likelihood of something occurring. Common in both spoken and written English. Avoid in very informal contexts where simpler words may suffice. |
Frequently asked questions: Likely vs Probable
What's the difference between Likely and Probable?
Likely: It probably will happen. Probable: likely to happen or be true
Which is more common: Likely and Probable?
Likely is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Likely and Probable?
Probable is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Likely and Probable the same CEFR level?
Likely: A2, Probable: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Likely and Probable?
Likely: adjective, Probable: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Likely: It is likely that it will rain tomorrow. Probable: the probable cause/explanation/outcome
Can I use Likely and Probable interchangeably?
Not always. Likely and Probable 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.