Tra từ likely - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

like·ly [likely likelier likeliest] adjective, adverb BrE [ˈlaɪkli] NAmE [ˈlaɪkli]
adjective (like·lier, like·li·est) more likely and most likely are the usual forms
1. probable or expected
•the most likely outcome
•~ (to do sth) Tickets are likely to be expensive.
•~ (that…) It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is worth.
•They might refuse to let us do it, but it's hardly likely.
2. seeming suitable for a purpose
Syn: ↑promising
•She seems the most likely candidate for the job.

Word Origin:
Middle English: from Old Norse líkligr, from líkr; related to ↑alike.

Thesaurus:
likely adj.
•What is the most likely cause of the infection?
possible • • potential • • prospective • • prone to sth • • inclined to do sth • • liable to sth • |especially written probable •
Opp: unlikely
be likely/possible/probable that…
likely/prone/inclined/liable to do sth
a likely/possible/potential/probable cause/effect/consequence/outcome
Likely or probable? Probable is much more frequent in written than in spoken English. Likely is very frequent in both, and used in a far wider range of structures and registers than probable:
•sb/sth is likely to do sth
✗ sb/sth is probable to do sth

Language Bank:
expect
Discussing predictions
▪ The number of people using mobile phones to purchase goods and services is expected ▪ / likely ▪ to more than double by the end of 2015.
▪ Experts have predicted ▪ / forecast ▪ that the number of people using their mobile phones to pay for goods and services should exceed 190 million in 2015.
▪ This figure is set to ▪ reach 200 million by 2016.
By ▪ 2015, 800 million mobile phone users worldwide will ▪ be participating in social networks via their phone.
▪ Sales of mobile phones in 2009 were lower than expected ▪.
▪ The company's announcement of 1.26 billion handsets sold for the year is in line with predictions ▪.
Language Banks at ↑fall, ↑illustrate, ↑increase, ↑proportion

Example Bank:
•It is entirely likely that the company will make another offer.
•It is highly likely that the factory will have to close.
•It seems very likely that he will be forced to resign.
•Juries became increasingly likely to acquit.
•The doctors didn't think it likely that she would ever heal completely.
•They're hardly likely to get home before ten.
•This match was never likely to be a classic.
•a development they believed would make nuclear war more likely
•the best deal they are ever likely to get
•It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is worth.
•They might refuse to let us do it, but it's hardly likely.
•What is the most likely cause of the infection?
Idioms: ↑as likely as not ▪ ↑likely story ▪ ↑most likely ▪ ↑not likely!

adverb

Grammar Point:
likely
In standard BrE the adverb likely must be used with a word such as most, more or very: ▪ We will most likely see him later. In informal NAmE likely is often used on its own: ▪ We will likely see him later. ◇ ▪ He said that he would likely run for President.