Cool MateArguably vs Likely vs Possibly vs Potentially
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Arguably
Likely
Possibly
Potentially
| Arguably | Likely | Possibly | Potentially | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɑːɡjuəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɑːrɡjuəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɒsəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːsəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈtenʃəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pəˈtenʃəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | It can be said that something is true. | It probably will happen. | maybe or maybe not; not sure | It means something might happen or could be 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. | a potentially dangerous situation |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | C1 | A2 | B1 | B2 |
| 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 | potentially dangerous, potentially useful, potentially harmful, potentially beneficial, potentially effective |
| Antonyms | undeniably, certainly, definitely, incontrovertibly | unlikely, improbable | definitely, certainly | definitely, certainly |
| 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'). | Using 'potentially' in place of 'actually', Confusing 'potentially' with 'probably', Overusing 'potentially' in informal speech |
| 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 'potentially' when discussing possibilities or probabilities. It's suitable for both spoken and written English but may feel too formal in casual conversations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Arguably vs Likely vs Possibly vs Potentially
What's the difference between Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially?
Arguably: It can be said that something is true. Likely: It probably will happen. Possibly: maybe or maybe not; not sure Potentially: It means something might happen or could be true.
Which is more common: Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially?
Likely is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially?
Arguably is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially the same CEFR level?
Arguably: C1, Likely: A2, Possibly: B1, Potentially: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially?
Arguably: adverb, Likely: adjective, Possibly: adverb, Potentially: 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. Potentially: a potentially dangerous situation
Can I use Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially interchangeably?
Not always. Arguably, Likely, Possibly, and Potentially 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.