{
    "term": "likely",
    "partOfSpeech": "adjective",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "having a good chance of happening or being something; probable or expected",
            "sensetop": "likely to do somethinglikely (that)…",
            "cefr": "a2",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "the **most likely explanation/outcome/scenario**"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the likely cause/consequence"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a likely nominee/contender/winner"
                },
                {
                    "text": "A threat level of ‘Severe’ means a terrorist attack is **highly likely**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They might ask for help or, **more likely**, just give up."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Tickets are likely to be expensive.",
                    "contextForm": "likely to do something"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The beetles are likely to cause damage."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is likely to be heavy snowfall."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's **hardly likely** (that) they'll refuse.",
                    "contextForm": "likely (that)…"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is **quite likely** the discussion may never take place."
                },
                {
                    "text": "What is the most likely cause of the infection?"
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's very likely they already have their own website."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Workplaces that scored highest for employee satisfaction were 38% more likely to have above-average productivity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Severe storms are most likely to occur in October and November."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Older people are more likely to die of the disease."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Women are more likely to have the condition than men."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You are less likely to have problems if you plan ahead."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is likely to remain cold all weekend."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is one of the strangest art galleries you're ever likely to see."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This is likely to cause problems further down the line."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Economists warn that this willingness to lend is not likely to continue."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The most likely explanation for these changes is a decline in insect numbers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I think there's a more likely explanation."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We need to talk honestly about the likely outcomes of these different choices."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We'd be fine if someone gave us $200 000 but that, unfortunately, is not a likely scenario."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The rising cost of housing is the most likely culprit."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We discussed the likely consequences of the vote."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The retiring Chairman was photographed having lunch with his likely successor."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a list of likely Oscar nominees"
                },
                {
                    "text": "His movie is still the most likely winner of this year's Best Picture."
                },
                {
                    "text": "a development they believed would make nuclear war more likely"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Juries became increasingly likely to acquit."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Violence may appeal to some viewers, but it's equally likely to put people off."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They're hardly likely to get home before ten."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This match was never likely to be a classic."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is entirely likely that the company will make another offer."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is worth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It is highly likely that the factory will have to close."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The doctors didn't think it likely that she would ever recover completely."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"],
            "collocations": {
                "verbs": ["appear", "be", "look"],
                "adverb": ["extremely", "fairly", "very"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "seeming suitable for a purpose",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "She seems the most **likely candidate** for the job."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "promising"
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "used to show that you do not believe what somebody has said",
            "labels": "(informal, ironic)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "You just found it lying in the street? A likely story!"
                },
                {
                    "text": "He said he'd met Rihanna. A likely story."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlaɪkli/",
                "audio": "li/likely/likely__gb_2.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/ˈlaɪkli/",
                "audio": "li/likely/likely__us_2.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "Middle English: from Old Norse líkligr, from líkr; related to alike."
}