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View synonyms for

unlikely

[ uhn-lahyk-lee ]

adjective

unlikelier, unlikeliest.
  1. not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
  2. holding little prospect of success; unpromising; likely to fail:

    He is an unlikely candidate for reelection.

  3. not ingratiating; objectionable.


adverb

  1. in an unlikely way.

unlikely

/ ʌˈɪɪ /

adjective

  1. not likely; improbable
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ܲˈԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·l·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of unlikely1

First recorded in 1325–75, unlikely is from the Middle English word unlikli. See un- 1, likely
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Idioms and Phrases

see in the unlikely event .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

An independent Alberta remains an unlikely prospect - a recent Angus Reid poll suggested that only one in four Albertans would vote to leave Canada if a referendum were held now.

From

Harvard, the world’s richest school, emerged as an unlikely folk hero after it rebuffed the administration’s demands for extensive control of the school.

From

When asked whether Lucy could have been traumatised by the flight or by her transfer to care, the social worker said she believes it is unlikely that alone was to blame.

From

As each day passes in fight week, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that Eubank Sr will attend Saturday's fight.

From

Doku and Savinho both started when Forest beat City at the beginning of March, which was City's last defeat, seven games ago, but it's unlikely that they will both start at Wembley.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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unlikelihoodunlimber