Cool MateNot very probable vs Rare vs Remote vs Unlikely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not very probable
Rare
Remote
Unlikely
| Not very probable | Rare | Remote | Unlikely | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈvɛri ˈprɒbəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈvɛri ˈprɑbəbəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/reə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/ |
| Meaning | something that is unlikely to happen | not common or usual | Far away or not near. | Not likely to happen or to be true. |
| Example | It’s not very probable that they will win the game. | The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations. | She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job. | It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | not very likely, not very possible, not very realistic | be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from | appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | certain, likely | common, usual, frequent | near, close, local | likely, probable, certain |
| Common mistakes | Using 'not very possible' instead of 'not very probable', Confusing with 'unlikely' without understanding subtle differences, Using it in overly formal contexts | Confusing 'rare' with 'rarely', which has a different meaning., Using 'rare' to describe frequency instead of quality., Misplacing 'rare' in sentences, leading to unclear meaning. | Confused with 'remotely' which has a different grammatical use., Using 'remotes' as a plural, when 'remote' is often uncountable in this context. | Confused with 'unlikely' vs 'unlikelyhood', Incorrectly using it in an informal context where 'improbable' might fit better., Using 'unlikely' to describe a person's character instead of a situation. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase in discussions about events that are doubtful. Avoid in formal writing where more precise language may be expected. | Used to describe something that is not often found or experienced. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using in very informal situations. | Use 'remote' to describe something that is far away in distance or time. It's suitable in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid informal situations where a more direct term might be preferred. | Use 'unlikely' to describe situations or outcomes that are not expected. It's more appropriate in neutral contexts; avoid in very formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Not very probable vs Rare vs Remote vs Unlikely
What's the difference between Not very probable, Rare, Remote, and Unlikely?
Not very probable: something that is unlikely to happen Rare: not common or usual Remote: Far away or not near. Unlikely: Not likely to happen or to be true.
Can you show an example of each?
Not very probable: It’s not very probable that they will win the game. Rare: The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations. Remote: She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job. Unlikely: It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies.
Can I use Not very probable, Rare, Remote, and Unlikely interchangeably?
Not always. Not very probable, Rare, Remote, and Unlikely 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.