likely

Adjective · Adverb

WordNet 3.0

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about“these services are likely to be available to us all before long”“she is likely to forget”“a likely place for a restaurant”“the broken limb is likely to fall”“rain is likely”“a likely topic for investigation”“likely candidates for the job”
likely but not certain to be or become true or real“a likely result”“he foresaw a probable loss”Synonyms: probable
expected to become or be; in prospect“potential clients”Synonyms: potential
within the realm of credibility“not a very likely excuse”

with considerable certainty; without much doubt“He is probably out of the country”“in all likelihood we are headed for war”Synonyms: probably in all likelihood in all probability belike

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]

Likely \Like"ly\, a. [Compar. Likelier (l[imac]k"l[i^]*[~e]r); superl. Likeliest.] [That is, like-like. See Like, a.]

1.Worthy of belief; probable; credible; as, a likely story. [1913 Webster]

It seems likely that he was in hope of being busy and conspicuous.— Johnson.[1913 Webster]

2.Having probability; having or giving reason to expect; -- followed by the infinitive; as, it is likely to rain. [1913 Webster]

3.Similar; like; alike. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

4.Such as suits; good-looking; pleasing; agreeable; handsome. --Shak. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5.Having such qualities as make success probable; well adapted to the place; promising; as, a likely young man; a likely servant. [1913 Webster]

6.Improbable; unlikely; -- used ironically; as, a likely story. [informal] [PJC]