Likelihood — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈlī-klē-ˌhu̇d/ like·li·hood

Meaning & Definition of Likelihood

Likelihood (noun)

  1. the chance that something will happen, probability

Likelihood (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the quality or state of being likely to occur

    "the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high"

    similar: liability, probability
    related: credibility, plausibility, plausibleness, feasibility, feasibleness, possibility, potentiality, reasonability, reasonableness, viability
    opposite: improbability, unlikelihood, unlikeliness
    near: doubtfulness, dubiousness, impracticability, impracticality, implausibility, incredibility, incredibleness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Likelihood

The most common words with a similar meaning to Likelihood:

liability, probability

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Likelihood

Words with the opposite meaning of Likelihood:

improbability, unlikelihood, unlikeliness

Related Words for Likelihood

credibility, plausibility, plausibleness, feasibility, feasibleness, possibility, potentiality, reasonability, reasonableness, viability

Near Antonyms of Likelihood

doubtfulness, dubiousness, impracticability, impracticality, implausibility, incredibility, incredibleness

Origin & Etymology of Likelihood

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Likelihood

Words & Phrases Containing Likelihood

maximum likelihood

Frequently Asked Questions about Likelihood

What does "Likelihood" mean?

"Likelihood" means the chance that something will happen, probability. As a noun, it is defined as: the chance that something will happen, probability.

What is another word for "Likelihood"?

Other words for "Likelihood" include liability and probability. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Likelihood" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Likelihood"?

There are 12 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Likelihood". Common alternatives include liability and probability.

What is the opposite of "Likelihood"?

Antonyms of "Likelihood" include improbability, unlikelihood and unlikeliness. Near antonyms include doubtfulness, dubiousness, impracticability and impracticality.

How do you use "Likelihood" in a sentence?

Examples of "Likelihood" in a sentence: "the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high".

Is "Likelihood" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Likelihood" is a noun.

Is "Likelihood" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Likelihood" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Likelihood"?

"Likelihood" is pronounced /ˈlī-klē-ˌhu̇d/ and divided into syllables as like·li·hood.