likelihood
B2Formal to neutral. Common in academic, scientific, journalistic, and business contexts. Less common in casual conversation where 'chance' or 'probability' might be used.
Definition
Meaning
The chance or probability that something will happen.
The state of being likely; a measure of how probable an event is. Can also refer to something that is probable or a probable situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun ('There is little likelihood'), but can be countable in the plural when referring to specific probable events or outcomes ('assessing various likelihoods'). Often forms a noun phrase with a following 'of + gerund' or 'that-clause'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of formality and statistical/analytical precision in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American academic and business English, but the difference is marginal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is a high likelihood of + noun/gerund (e.g., of rain).The likelihood that + clause (e.g., that she will agree).assess/evaluate/determine the likelihood of something.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In all likelihood (very probably).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in risk assessment and forecasting: 'The likelihood of the project exceeding its budget is low.'
Academic
Core term in statistics and research: 'The model calculates the likelihood of each outcome.'
Everyday
Used in general prediction: 'What's the likelihood of getting a table without a reservation?'
Technical
Key concept in statistics (e.g., 'maximum likelihood estimation'), data science, and machine learning.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new evidence likelyhoods the earlier hypothesis. (Note: 'likelihood' is not a verb; this is an incorrect usage example to highlight the error.)
American English
- To likelihood the event is not standard usage. (Note: 'likelihood' is not a verb; this is an incorrect usage example to highlight the error.)
adverb
British English
- It will likelihood happen tomorrow. (Note: 'likelihood' is not an adverb; use 'likely' instead.)
American English
- He will likelihood arrive late. (Note: 'likelihood' is not an adverb; use 'likely' instead.)
adjective
British English
- A likelihood outcome is being discussed. (Note: 'likelihood' is not an adjective; use 'likely' instead.)
American English
- The likelihood scenario was improbable. (Note: 'likelihood' is not an adjective; use 'likely' instead.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a likelihood of rain today.
- In all likelihood, the meeting will be postponed until next week.
- The report assesses the likelihood of various economic scenarios over the next decade.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'It is LIKELY to happen, so there is a LIKELIHOOD.' The word contains its own clue.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIKELIHOOD IS SIZE (a 'high' likelihood, a 'great' likelihood). LIKELIHOOD IS A PATH ('in all likelihood, we will...').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'вероятность' in all contexts; for 'in all likelihood' use the fixed phrase, not 'во всей вероятности'.
- Do not confuse with 'likeness' (сходство).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'likeliness' (non-standard).
- Using it as a countable noun where uncountable is standard: 'There is a high likelihood' (correct) vs. 'There are high likelihoods for this' (awkward).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'likelihood' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In everyday language, they are often interchangeable. However, in statistics, 'probability' refers to the long-run frequency of an event, while 'likelihood' refers to how probable a set of observations is, given specific parameters.
No, 'likeliness' is considered non-standard. The correct noun form is always 'likelihood'.
It is primarily uncountable (e.g., 'There is little likelihood'). It can be used countably in technical or formal contexts when referring to distinct probabilities (e.g., 'comparing the likelihoods of different models'), but this is less common.
'Likelihood' implies a degree of probability, even if small. 'Possibility' simply means something can happen, with no judgement on how probable it is. A 'remote likelihood' is still a probability, however small.
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