probably
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
What does probably mean? Probably means most likely or in all likelihood. Probably is the adverb form of the adjective probable, meaning “very likely to occur or be true.” Probably is used when you think something will happen or turn out to be true, but you’re not certain enough to say it definitely will. Example: My flight will probably arrive within the next few hours, but I can’t guarantee it.
Etymology
Origin of probably
Explanation
If something probably will happen, it's likely. If it probably won't happen, don't get your hopes up. This is a word for things that are likely to happen or just believable. If your dinner is gone and your dog looks guilty, the dog probably jumped on the table to eat it. If someone moved all the furniture around while you were sleeping, you probably would have noticed. Given all the billions of stars in the sky, there's probably life out there, but who knows if we'll ever meet it. You probably like some foods better than others.
Vocabulary lists containing probably
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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SHSAT: Language of the Test
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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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.
Still, if this season has proven anything, it’s that when it comes to new technology, it’s probably best to trust the young generation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
While I completely understand not wanting to manage people, saying that outright in an interview probably isn’t the strongest approach.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Soccer probably won’t supplant my love for baseball, football, basketball and hockey — but I can now mention it in the same breath as them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Younger animals were better able to support themselves on two legs, while adults probably experienced much greater strain because of their increasing weight.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 20, 2026
But it was probably for the best, according to Brickbane’s revelation on the night of Clare’s undeath.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
