adjective
unlikely
uhn-LYK-lee
adjective
1
Not probable; not expected to happen.
"It seems unlikely that they'll finish the project on time."
"An unlikely friendship formed between the two rivals."
How to Use Unlikely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot likely to happen or be true; improbable.
Common pairings
unlikely event
unlikely hero
highly unlikely
Word Forms
unlikelier comparative, more unlikely comparative, more unlikely comparative, unlikelies plural, unlikeliest superlative, most unlikely superlative, most unlikely superlative
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Etymology
From Middle English unlikely, from "un-" + "likely."