May 8, 2026 · The meaning of UNLIKELY is not likely : improbable. How to use unlikely in a sentence. not probable or likely to happen: 2. not the same as you would usually expect: 3. If you say that something is unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true, you believe that it will not happen or that it is not true, although you are not completely sure. unlikely synonyms, unlikely pronunciation, unlikely translation, English dictionary definition of unlikely. un·like·li·er , un·like·li·est 1. Not promising; likely … Explore everything about "unlikely": synonyms, antonyms, similar meanings, associated words, adjectives, collocations, and broader/narrower terms — all in one place. un•like•ly (un līk′ lē), adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv. not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt. holding little prospect of success; unpromising; likely to fail: He is an unlikely candidate for reelection. … There are 13 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word unlikely, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. Feb 21, 2026 · Adjective unlikely (comparative unlikelier or more unlikely, superlative unlikeliest or most unlikely) Not likely; improbable; not to be reasonably expected.
