unlikely
Americanadjective
-
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
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unlikeliness noun
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.
In some ways Mr. Bessent is an unlikely choice to be given so much authority over Mr. Trump’s agenda.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
I think it’s very unlikely that the court will rule against the amendment.
From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026
Dr. Turyshev emphasizes that without a clear, testable prediction, additional experiments in the solar system are unlikely to yield new results.
From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2026
Data analytics itself is unlikely to disappear, but it is evolving quickly.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026
“I cannot believe that he has not the power of coming, if he made a point of it. It is too unlikely, for me to believe it without proof.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
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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.