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Synonyms

likelihood

American  
[lahyk-lee-hood] / ˈlaɪk liˌhʊd /
Or likeliness

noun

  1. the state of being likely or probable; probability.

  2. a probability or chance of something.

    There is a strong likelihood of his being elected.

  3. Archaic. indication of a favorable end; promise.

likelihood British  
/ ˈlaɪklɪˌnɪs, ˈlaɪklɪˌhʊd /

noun

  1. the condition of being likely or probable; probability

  2. something that is probable

  3. statistics the probability of a given sample being randomly drawn regarded as a function of the parameters of the population. The likelihood ratio is the ratio of this to the maximized likelihood See also maximum likelihood

"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

Other Word Forms

  • superlikelihood noun

Etymology

Origin of likelihood

First recorded in 1350–1400, likelihood is from the Middle English word liklihood. See likely, -hood

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.

He said in cup ties that have no likelihood whatsoever of the outcome changing, blowing up early can be OK.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Oil prices dropped sharply Wednesday after a volatile day of trading as investors assessed the likelihood of war ending and of tanker traffic resuming through a contested waterway.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

“The likelihood of that happening—it changes every day.”

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The study also identified factors that increase the likelihood of having this condition.

From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026

“The likelihood of finding a fossil is very low. It is unknown whether fossils even exist on Mars,” I say as I download more of the information that I have in my system.

From "A Rover's Story" by Jasmine Warga

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.