likelihood
noun
like·li·hood
ˈlī-klē-ˌhu̇d 
: the chance that something will happen : probability
There's very little likelihood of that happening. [=that is very unlikely to happen]
changes that in all likelihood will be made soon [=changes that are very likely to be made soon]
… a strong likelihood that he is correct …—
T. D. Anderson
T. D. AndersonThe likelihood of instability might increase because of the economic crisis.—Fareed Zakaria
Fareed Zakaria… could reduce the likelihood of a fire in their convenience store by banning smoking in their building …—Harriet E. Jones et al.
Harriet E. Jones et al.
Examples of likelihood in a Sentence
There is a strong likelihood that he will be reelected.
the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high
Recent Examples on the Web
For each type of polling average, our model picks the set of parameters that generate the optimal values for three measures of accuracy:
The likelihood of our polling average to predict future real poll results.
—G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024
That likelihood will further decrease the longer a decision takes.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
But the likelihood that any of those conditions will lead to war increases in the presence of dueling orders.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The bad news for Democrats is that when the Harvard poll looked at all young adults, regardless of their likelihood of voting, the picture changes strikingly: Biden leads, but only 45%-37%.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
At this point, the likelihood of WSU and OSU executing a reverse merger, with either nine or all 12 Mountain West schools is less than 50-50.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
As families got smaller in the 20th century, though, the likelihood of a sibling match fell.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Fit Your pulse oximeter should fit well on your finger to increase the likelihood of accurate results.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 16 Apr. 2024
How might a change to a platform influence a user’s likelihood of spending more time scrolling during the next three months?
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2024
That likelihood will further decrease the longer a decision takes.
—USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024
But the likelihood that any of those conditions will lead to war increases in the presence of dueling orders.
—Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
The bad news for Democrats is that when the Harvard poll looked at all young adults, regardless of their likelihood of voting, the picture changes strikingly: Biden leads, but only 45%-37%.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
At this point, the likelihood of WSU and OSU executing a reverse merger, with either nine or all 12 Mountain West schools is less than 50-50.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024
As families got smaller in the 20th century, though, the likelihood of a sibling match fell.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024
Fit Your pulse oximeter should fit well on your finger to increase the likelihood of accurate results.
—Sarah Bradley, Health, 16 Apr. 2024
How might a change to a platform influence a user’s likelihood of spending more time scrolling during the next three months?
—Billy Perrigo, TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'likelihood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/likelihood. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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likelihood
noun
like·li·hood
ˈlī-klē-ˌhu̇d
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