unlikely
Americanadjective
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not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
-
holding little prospect of success; unpromising; likely to fail.
He is an unlikely candidate for reelection.
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not ingratiating; objectionable.
adverb
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of unlikely
First recorded in 1325–75, unlikely is from the Middle English word unlikli. See un- 1, likely
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And in that interview he discussed why he thinks it unlikely the court will overturn the marriage equality decision, Obergefell.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
The brothers declined to give any details about what their next joint project would be, but it is unlikely to be fantasy-based.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Bobby Robotowitz” follows Dina, a flailing novelist, mother and wife, as she begins chatting with Bobby, whom she finds an unlikely confidant.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Former Tottenham and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has said he intends to run, but it appears unlikely he will get the five letters of support from member associations let alone be a serious contender.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
A thought crossed Ben’s mind: These people believed that the collapse of the subprime mortgage market was unlikely precisely because it would be such a catastrophe.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Then the next game turned out to be even unlikelier.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 12, 2026
Soon, Gef appeared in an even unlikelier place: the British courts.
From National Geographic ● Sep. 19, 2023
Some of the suggested new tributes reach into unlikelier cultural realms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2022
Pricier and bulkier than a Nike Fuelband or Fitbit and cluttered with more features, the Sport is unlikely to win over the quantified-exercise crowd, and the fancier models unlikelier still.
From Slate ● Dec. 18, 2015
If he's shamming—and unlikelier things have happened, now you mention it—the doctor finds him out.
From Nicky-Nan, Reservist by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
He also discovers the unlikeliest of love stories, making the appealingly discursive, touchingly oddball “History” feel like a bent, colorful flower poking out of the pavement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Balancing sorrow with self-deprecation, Maron covers childhood abuse, his father’s dementia, evacuating his home with three cats during the L.A. fires and becoming the unlikeliest of Swifties.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
They have been the unlikeliest powerhouse imaginable for nearly two decades, perennially reaching the playoffs despite microscopic payrolls that consistently rank among the lowest in the sport.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
The Estadio da Luz then erupted deep in injury time as Trubin turned the unlikeliest of heroes as he nodded in from a free-kick to send Benfica through.
From Barron's ● Jan. 28, 2026
We learn our hardest lessons from unlikeliest masters.
From Heralds of Empire Being the Story of One Ramsay Stanhope, Lieutenant to Pierre Radisson in the Northern Fur Trade by Agnes C. (Agnes Christina) Laut
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
