likely

likely
likely [ˈlaɪklɪ]
1. adjective
   a. [result, consequences] probable
• it is likely that ... il est probable que ... + subj
• it is not likely that ... il est peu probable que ... + subj
• it's hardly likely that ... il est peu probable que ... + subj
   b. he is likely to ... il est bien possible qu'il ... + subj
• to be likely to win/succeed [person] avoir de fortes chances de gagner/réussir
• she is not likely to come il est peu probable qu'elle vienne
• this trend is likely to continue cette tendance va probablement se poursuivre
• he is not likely to succeed il a peu de chances de réussir
• the man most likely to succeed l'homme qui a le plus de chances de réussir
• that is not likely to happen cela a peu de chances de se produire
• they were not likely to forget it ils n'étaient pas près de l'oublier
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
► When likely to refers to an unwelcome prospect, risquer may be used.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
• to be likely to fail/refuse [person] risquer d'échouer/de refuser
• she is likely to arrive at any time elle va probablement arriver d'une minute à l'autre ; (unwelcome) elle risque d'arriver d'une minute à l'autre
• this incident is likely to cause trouble cet incident risque de créer des problèmes
   c. ( = plausible) plausible
• a likely story! elle est bonne, celle-là !
   d. ( = promising) he's a likely candidate c'est un candidat qui promet
• he glanced round for a likely-looking person to help him il chercha des yeux une personne susceptible de l'aider
• a likely place for him to be hiding un endroit où il pouvait être caché
2. adverb
   a. (US) ( = probably) probablement
• some prisoners will likely be released soon certains prisonniers seront probablement bientôt libérés
   b. very or most likely très probablement
• it will very or most likely rain il va sûrement pleuvoir
► as likely as not sans doute
   c. (British) (inf) not likely! sûrement pas ! (inf)
• are you going? -- not likely! tu y vas ? -- sûrement pas !
* * *
['laɪklɪ] 1.
adjective
1) (probable) probable; [explanation] plausible

to be likely to fail — risquer d'échouer

to be likely to become president — avoir de fortes chances de devenir président

the man most likely to win — l'homme qui a le plus de chances de gagner

it is ou seems likely that — il est probable que

it is not ou hardly likely that — il y a peu de chances que (+ subj)

he looks likely to fail — il échouera probablement

a likely story! — iron à d'autres! (colloq)

2) (promising) [person, candidate] prometteur/-euse
3) (potential) [client, candidate] potentiel/-ielle
2.
adverb (probably) probablement

as likely as not — probablement

not likely! — (colloq) GB que tu crois! (colloq)


English-French dictionary. 2013.

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  • likely — ► ADJECTIVE (likelier, likeliest) 1) such as well might be the case; probable. 2) promising. ► ADVERB ▪ probably. ● a likely story! Cf. ↑a likely story! …   English terms dictionary

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  • likely — [adj] probable, apt, hopeful acceptable, achievable, anticipated, assuring, attainable, believeable, conceivable, conjecturable, credible, destined, disposed, expected, fair, favorite, feasible, given to, imaginable, inclined, in favor of,… …   New thesaurus

  • Likely — Like ly, adv. In all probability; probably. [1913 Webster] While man was innocent he was likely ignorant of nothing that imported him to know. Glanvill. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • likely — (adj.) c.1300, perhaps from O.N. likligr likely, from likr like (see LIKE (Cf. like) (adj.)). Old English had cognate geliclic. Meaning having the appearance of being strong and capable is from mid 15c., though now mostly confined to American… …   Etymology dictionary

  • likely — index apparent (presumptive), appropriate, believable, circumstantial, convincing, deductible (provable) …   Law dictionary

  • likely — 1 *probable, possible Analogous words: credible, believable, colorable, *plausible: reasonable, *rational Antonyms: unlikely Contrasted words: *doubtful, dubious, questionable, problematic: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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