B1adjective2K

Unlikely

UK /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/US /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/

Definition

not likely to happen; not probable

In simple words: Not likely to happen or to be true.

Examples

It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies.
The chances of winning the lottery are quite unlikely.
She took an unlikely turn in her career by becoming an artist.
His explanation for the mishap was unlikely to be believed by anyone.
They found an unlikely ally in their fight for justice.

Usage notes

Use 'unlikely' to describe situations or outcomes that are not expected. It's more appropriate in neutral contexts; avoid in very formal writing.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'unlikely' as 'un-likely' — a situation without high chances.

Collocations

appear
be
look
extremely
fairly
very
appear
be
look
extremely
fairly
very
appear
be
look
extremely
fairly
very

Synonyms

implausible

Antonyms

likely
probable
certain

Common mistakes

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.