Cool MateNot very probable vs Rare vs Unlikely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not very probable
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Rare
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Unlikely
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
| Not very probable | Rare | Unlikely | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈvɛri ˈprɒbəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈvɛri ˈprɑbəbəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/reə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/ |
| Meaning | something that is unlikely to happen | not common or usual | 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. | It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | 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, look, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | certain, likely | common, usual, frequent | 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 '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 'unlikely' to describe situations or outcomes that are not expected. It's more appropriate in neutral contexts; avoid in very formal writing. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Not very probable vs Rare vs Unlikely
What's the difference between Not very probable, Rare, and Unlikely?
Not very probable: something that is unlikely to happen Rare: not common or usual 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. Unlikely: It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies.
Can I use Not very probable, Rare, and Unlikely interchangeably?
Not always. Not very probable, Rare, 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.