like·ly
adjective OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈlaɪkli/
/ˈlaɪkli/
(comparative likelier, superlative likeliest)
more likely and most likely are more frequentIdioms - having a good chance of happening or being something; probable or expected
很可能的；预料中的；有希望的 - the most likely explanation/outcome/scenario
最可能的解释／结果／场景 - the likely cause/consequence
可能的原因/结果 - a likely nominee/contender/winner
可能的提名者/竞争者/获胜者 - A threat level of ‘Severe’ means a terrorist attack is highly likely.
威胁等级为“严重”意味着恐怖袭击极有可能发生。 - They might ask for help or, more likely, just give up.
他们可能会寻求帮助，或者更有可能的是放弃。 - likely to do something Tickets are likely to be expensive.
入场券可能很贵。 - The beetles are likely to cause damage.
甲虫可能会造成损害。 - There is likely to be heavy snowfall.
可能会有大雪。 - likely (that)… It's hardly likely (that) they'll refuse.
他们不太可能拒绝。 - It is quite likely the discussion may never take place.
讨论很可能永远不会进行。
Express Yourself Expressing likelihoodExpressing likelihoodWhen you are talking about possible situations, you can express how likely you think they are:- It's pretty much inevitable that prices will go up this year.
今年价格上涨几乎是不可避免的了。
- It's pretty much inevitable that prices will go up this year.
- I think it's likely to rain this afternoon.
我觉得今天下午有可能下雨。
- I think it's likely to rain this afternoon.
- I’m probably going to be away then.
到那时候我可能就要离开了。
- I’m probably going to be away then.
- I guess there's a fifty per cent chance that they'll say no.
我估计他们不同意的几率有百分之五十。
- I guess there's a fifty per cent chance that they'll say no.
- It's unlikely, but not totally impossible, I suppose.
我想这不大可能，但并非完全没有可能。
- It's unlikely, but not totally impossible, I suppose.
- They can't possibly/really be serious about buying a boat!
他们不可能真要买一条船吧！
- They can't possibly/really be serious about buying a boat!
- Let's start without them. They're bound to be late.
咱们不等他们了，先开始吧。他们肯定会迟到。
- Let's start without them. They're bound to be late.
Language Bank expectexpectDiscussing predictions- By 2050, one in six people on the planet will be aged 65 or over.
到 2050 年，地球上六分之一的人将年龄在 65 岁或以上。
- By 2050, one in six people on the planet will be aged 65 or over.
- The number of people globally aged 65 and over is expected/likely to more than double by 2050.
到 2050 年，全球 65 岁及以上的人口数量预计/可能会增加一倍以上。
- The number of people globally aged 65 and over is expected/likely to more than double by 2050.
- Experts have predicted/forecast that the over-65s will make up 17 per cent of the global population by 2050.
专家预测，到 2050 年，65 岁以上人口将占全球人口的 17%。
- Experts have predicted/forecast that the over-65s will make up 17 per cent of the global population by 2050.
- World population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
到 2050 年，世界人口预计将达到 98 亿。
- World population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
- Net migration into Britain over the last decade was higher than expected.
过去十年英国的净移民数量高于预期。
- Net migration into Britain over the last decade was higher than expected.
- Overall population growth in Britain has been in line with predictions.
英国的总体人口增长符合预测。
- Overall population growth in Britain has been in line with predictions.
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintya2- What is the most likely cause of the infection?
这种传染病最有可能的病因是什么？ - It's very likely they already have their own website.
他们很可能已经拥有自己的网站。 - Workplaces that scored highest for employee satisfaction were 38% more likely to have above-average productivity.
员工满意度得分最高的工作场所的生产力高于平均水平的可能性高出 38%。 - Severe storms are most likely to occur in October and November.
十月和十一月最有可能发生严重风暴。 - Older people are more likely to die of the disease.
老年人更有可能死于这种疾病。 - Women are more likely to have the condition than men.
女性比男性更容易患此病。 - You are less likely to have problems if you plan ahead.
如果你提前计划，你就不太可能遇到问题。 - It is likely to remain cold all weekend.
整个周末可能都会保持寒冷。 - This is one of the strangest art galleries you're ever likely to see.
这是您可能见过的最奇怪的艺术画廊之一。 - This is likely to cause problems further down the line.
这可能会导致进一步的问题。 - Economists warn that this willingness to lend is not likely to continue.
经济学家警告说，这种放贷意愿不太可能持续下去。 - The most likely explanation for these changes is a decline in insect numbers.
这些变化最可能的解释是昆虫数量的减少。 - I think there's a more likely explanation.
我认为有一个更可能的解释。 - We need to talk honestly about the likely outcomes of these different choices.
我们需要诚实地讨论这些不同选择可能产生的结果。 - We'd be fine if someone gave us $200 000 but that, unfortunately, is not a likely scenario.
如果有人给我们 200 000 美元，我们就没问题，但不幸的是，这种情况不太可能发生。 - The rising cost of housing is the most likely culprit.
住房成本上涨是最有可能的罪魁祸首。 - We discussed the likely consequences of the vote.
我们讨论了投票可能产生的后果。 - The retiring Chairman was photographed having lunch with his likely successor.
即将退休的主席被拍到与他可能的继任者共进午餐。 - a list of likely Oscar nominees
可能的奥斯卡提名者名单 - His movie is still the most likely winner of this year's Best Picture.
他的电影仍然是今年最佳影片最有可能的获奖者。 - a development they believed would make nuclear war more likely
他们认为会加大核战争可能性的一项发展事态 - Juries became increasingly likely to acquit.
陪审团越来越可能作出无罪裁定了。 - Violence may appeal to some viewers, but it's equally likely to put people off.
暴力可能会吸引一些观众，但同样可能会让人们望而却步。 - They're hardly likely to get home before ten.
他们几乎不可能在 10 点以前到家。 - This match was never likely to be a classic.
这场比赛绝不可能成为经典。 - It is entirely likely that the company will make another offer.
该公司完全可能再次报盘。 - It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is worth.
小偷很可能不知道它值多少钱。 - It is highly likely that the factory will have to close.
这家工厂很可能要关闭。 - The doctors didn't think it likely that she would ever heal completely.
医生们认为她不大可能完全康复。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- look
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- the most likely explanation/outcome/scenario
- seeming suitable for a purpose
似乎合适的；仿佛恰当的 - She seems the most likely candidate for the job.
这项工作，她似乎是最适宜的人选了。
- She seems the most likely candidate for the job.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old Norse líkligr, from líkr; related to alike.
Idioms
a likely story
- (informal, ironic) used to show that you do not believe what somebody has said
（表示不相信某人的话）是吗 - You just found it lying in the street? A likely story!
你刚发现它躺在街上？一个可能的故事！ - He said he'd met Rihanna. A likely story.
他说他见过蕾哈娜。一个可能的故事。
- You just found it lying in the street? A likely story!