like·ly /ˈlaɪkli/
(a.)有可能的,合適的,前途有望的(ad.)或許,可能
Like·ly, a. [Compar. Likelier superl. Likeliest.]
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.]
4. Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome.
5. Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant.
Like·ly, adv. In all probability; probably.
While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of nothing that imported him to know. --Glanvill.
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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]