unlikely

[ uhn-lahyk-lee ]

/ ʌnˈlaɪk li /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR unlikely ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, un·like·li·er, un·like·li·est.

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.

not ingratiating; objectionable.

adverb

in an unlikely way.

Nearby words

unlevel, unlicensed, unlicked, unlike, unlikelihood, unlikely, unlimber, unlimited, unlined, unlink, unlisted

Origin of unlikely

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

Related forms

un·like·li·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for unlikely

Harris is unlikely to see a challenge from Villaraigosa, either.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We tend to think not, but the rise of King, Kennedy, and Lincoln was unlikely, too.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was clear to me that I was unlikely ever to see it again.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But these were technical solutions and unlikely to inspire protests alone.
Sharpton Recalls Civil Rights Struggle in DC March Against Police Violence|Ben Jacobs|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The demonic ‘anti-Santa’ enjoys an unlikely renaissance as we learn to embrace our inner pagan.
Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa|Jay Michaelson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She thought that it was unlikely that she would ever see him again.
The House of Defence v. 2|E. F. Benson
For no cloak had been found on the sands, and it was unlikely that she had worn it into the water.
The Gay Cockade|Temple Bailey
Unlikely as it was that he should have obtained it from his sister, there seemed to be no other explanation possible.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 122, December, 1867|Various
And, furthermore, he sometimes selected those apparently most unlikely to further his ends.
Religious Studies, Sketches and Poems|Harriet Beecher Stowe
Men perhaps thought that things might have been much worse, and that they were not unlikely to mend.
William the Conqueror|Edward Augustus Freeman

British Dictionary definitions for unlikely

unlikely

/ (ʌnˈlaɪklɪ) /

adjective

not likely; improbable

Derived Forms

unlikeliness or unlikelihood, noun

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

Idioms and Phrases with unlikely

unlikely

see in the unlikely event.