probability
/ˌprɒbəˈbɪlətɪ/noun
(pl. -ies)［mass noun］
1- the extent to which something is probable; the likelihood of something happening or being the case可能性; 或然性：
the rain will make the probability of their arrival even greater.
下雨使他们到来的可能性变得更大。
1.1
- count noun a probable event可能的事, 或有的事：
for a time revolution was a strong probability.
革命曾经是很可能的事。
1.2
- count noun the most probable thing最有可能发生的事：
the probability is that it will be phased in over a number of years.
最有可能的是它将在若干年内分阶段被引入。
1.3
- Mathematics the extent to which an event is likely to occur, measured by the ratio of the favourable cases to the whole number of cases possible【数】概率：
the area under the curve represents probability
曲线以下的部分代表概率
count noun a probability of 0.5.0.5的概率。
短语
in all probability
- used to convey that something is very likely多半, 很有可能; 十有八九：
he would in all probability make himself known.
他十有八九会使自己为人所知。
词源
late Middle English: from Latin probabilitas,from probabilis 'provable，credible' （see PROBABLE）.