Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Likely"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Likely \Like"ly\, a. [Compar. {Likelier} (l[imac]k"l[i^]*[~e]r);
superl. {Likeliest}.] [That is, like-like. See {Like}, a.]
1. Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story.
It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy
and conspicuous. --Johnson.
2. Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; --
followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain.
3. Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] --Spenser.
4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable;
handsome. --Shak. Milton.
5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well
adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a
likely servant.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Likely \Like"ly\, adv.
In all probability; probably.
While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of
nothing that imported him to know. --Glanvill.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
likely
adj 1: has a good chance of being the case or of coming about;
"these services are likely to be available to us all
before long"; "she is likely to forget"; "a likely
place for a restaurant"; "the broken limb is likely to
fall"; "rain is likely"; "a likely topic for
investigation"; "likely candidates for the job" [ant:
{unlikely}]
2: likely but not certain to be or become true or real; "a
likely result"; "he foresaw a probable loss" [syn: {probable},
{plausible}] [ant: {improbable}]
3: expected to become or be; in prospect; "potential clients";
"expected income" [syn: {expected}, {potential}]
4: within the realm of credibility; "not a very likely excuse";
"a plausible story" [syn: {plausible}]
adv : with considerable certainty; without much doubt; "He is
probably out of the country"; "in all likelihood we are
headed for war" [syn: {probably}, {in all likelihood},
{in all probability}, {belike}]
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