unlikely

adjective

un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē How to pronounce unlikely (audio)
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely outcome
2
: likely to fail : unpromising

Examples of unlikely in a Sentence

He was an unlikely candidate for the position. A big city seems like an unlikely place to find wildlife. I received support from an unlikely ally.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The plaintiffs are the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, two physicians and the four women testifying this week, who learned while pregnant that their fetuses were unlikely to survive. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024 Gunmen from the Manfredi and Bevilaqua outfits, led by weed store employee and unlikely sharpshooter Grace, take out the rest of the Triads. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024 All the staples are there, too: bloody battles, surprising revelations and dormant powers within unlikely sources. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 The military and the civil service are unlikely to take any provocative action that would trigger, let alone justify, such a purge. Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unlikely 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unlikely was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near unlikely

Cite this Entry

“Unlikely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unlikely. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

unlikely

adjective
un·​like·​ly ˌən-ˈlī-klē How to pronounce unlikely (audio)
ˈən-
1
: not likely : improbable
an unlikely story
2
: likely to fail : unpromising
an unlikely place for fishing
unlikeliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on unlikely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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