Definition

Noun 1. The probability or chance that something will happen or is true: Likelihood refers to how probable a particular event or outcome is, based on available evidence or reasoning. It is a measure of how likely something is to occur. 2. The state of being probable: It describes the quality or fact of being likely or probable.

Usage and Examples

• General Usage: Used to discuss the chance or probability of an event.
  • The likelihood of rain tomorrow is very high.
  • There is a strong likelihood that the project will be completed on time.
• With Quantifiers: Often used with words like "high," "low," "strong," "great," "every," "all," or "no" to indicate the degree of probability.
  • In all likelihood, the meeting will be postponed.
  • There is no likelihood of a price decrease this year.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "In all likelihood": This is a common idiomatic phrase meaning "very probably" or "almost certainly." It is used to express a high degree of confidence in a prediction.
  • In all likelihood, we will need to hire more staff.
• Statistical/Formal Context: In technical fields like statistics, science, or risk assessment, "likelihood" is a precise term for a quantified probability or a function that measures how well a set of observations fits a particular statistical model.
  • The model's parameters are estimated by maximizing the likelihood.

Variants and Related Words

• Likely (Adjective): Probable; such as might well happen or be true.
  • A likely outcome.
• Unlikelihood (Noun): The state of being unlikely or improbable.
  • The unlikelihood of such a coincidence.
• Likeliness (Noun): A less common synonym for likelihood.
  • The likeliness of success.

Synonyms

• Probability: The extent to which something is probable; the likelihood of something happening or being the case.
• Chance: The possibility of something happening.
• Odds: The ratio of the probability of an event happening to the probability of it not happening.
• Prospect: The possibility or likelihood of some future event occurring.

Antonyms

• Unlikelihood: The state of being unlikely.
• Improbability: The quality of being improbable.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• In all likelihood / In every likelihood: Almost certainly; very probably.
  • In all likelihood, the answer is yes.
• On the balance of probabilities / likelihood: Considering what is most likely to be true based on the evidence.
  • On the balance of likelihoods, his version of events is more credible.

Noun

1. the probability of a specified outcome