likely
adjective OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈlaɪkli/
/ˈlaɪkli/
(comparative likelier, superlative likeliest)
Idioms - having a good chance of happening or being something; probable or expected
可能的；预料的；有希望的 - the most likely explanation/outcome/scenario
最可能的解释/结果/情景 - the likely cause/consequence
可能的原因/后果 - a likely nominee/contender/winner
可能的提名者/竞争者/获胜者 - A threat level of ‘Severe’ means a terrorist attack is highly likely.
“严重”威胁级别意味着很可能发生恐怖袭击。 - They might ask for help or, more likely, just give up.
他们可能会寻求帮助，或者更有可能的是，干脆放弃。 - likely to do something Tickets are likely to be expensive.
入场券可能很贵。 - The beetles are likely to cause damage.
甲虫可能会造成损害。 - There is likely to be heavy snowfall.
可能会下大雪。 - likely (that)… It's hardly likely (that) they'll refuse.
他们不大可能会拒绝。 - It is quite likely the discussion may never take place.
讨论很可能永远不会进行。
Express Yourself Expressing likelihoodExpressing likelihood表达可能性 表达可能性有多大可用以下方式： - It's pretty much inevitable that prices will go up this year.
今年价格上涨几乎是不可避免的了。
- It's pretty much inevitable that prices will go up this year.
- I think it's likely to rain this afternoon.
我觉得今天下午有可能下雨。
- I think it's likely to rain this afternoon.
- I’m probably going to be away then.
到那时候我可能就要离开了。
- I’m probably going to be away then.
- I guess there's a fifty per cent chance that they'll say no.
我估计他们不同意的几率有百分之五十。
- I guess there's a fifty per cent chance that they'll say no.
- It's unlikely, but not totally impossible, I suppose.
我想这不大可能，但并非完全没有可能。
- It's unlikely, but not totally impossible, I suppose.
- They can't possibly/really be serious about buying a boat!
他们不可能真要买一条船吧！
- They can't possibly/really be serious about buying a boat!
- Let's start without them. They're bound to be late.
咱们不等他们了，先开始吧。他们肯定会迟到。
- Let's start without them. They're bound to be late.
Language Bank expectexpectDiscussing predictions谈论预测 - By 2050, one in six people on the planet will be aged 65 or over.
到2050年，地球上每六个人中就有一个年龄在65岁或以上。
- By 2050, one in six people on the planet will be aged 65 or over.
- The number of people globally aged 65 and over is expected/likely to more than double by 2050.
到2050年，全球65岁及以上的人口预计/可能翻一番以上。
- The number of people globally aged 65 and over is expected/likely to more than double by 2050.
- Experts have predicted/forecast that the over-65s will make up 17 per cent of the global population by 2050.
专家预测，到2050年，65岁以上的人口将占全球人口的17%。
- Experts have predicted/forecast that the over-65s will make up 17 per cent of the global population by 2050.
- World population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
到2050年，世界人口将达到98亿。
- World population is set to reach 9.8 billion by 2050.
- Net migration into Britain over the last decade was higher than expected.
过去十年英国的净移民人数高于预期。
- Net migration into Britain over the last decade was higher than expected.
- Overall population growth in Britain has been in line with predictions.
英国的总体人口增长与预测一致。
- Overall population growth in Britain has been in line with predictions.
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintya2- What is the most likely cause of the infection?
这种传染病最有可能的病因是什么？ - It's very likely they already have their own website.
很有可能他们已经有了自己的网站。 - Workplaces that scored highest for employee satisfaction were 38% more likely to have above-average productivity.
员工满意度最高的工作场所的生产率高于平均水平的可能性要高38%。 - Severe storms are most likely to occur in October and November.
10月和11月最有可能出现强风暴。 - Older people are more likely to die of the disease.
老年人更容易死于这种疾病。 - Women are more likely to suffer from the condition than men.
女性比男性更容易患上这种疾病。 - You are less likely to have problems if you plan ahead.
如果你提前计划，你就不太可能有问题。 - It is likely to remain cold all weekend.
整个周末天气可能会持续寒冷。 - This is one of the strangest art galleries you're ever likely to see.
这是你可能见过的最奇怪的美术馆之一。 - This is likely to cause problems further down the line.
这很可能会导致进一步的问题。 - Economists warn that this willingness to lend is not likely to continue.
经济学家警告称，这种放贷意愿不太可能持续下去。 - The most likely explanation for these changes is a decline in insect numbers.
对这些变化最可能的解释是昆虫数量的减少。 - I think there's a more likely explanation.
我觉得还有更可能的解释。 - We need to talk honestly about the likely outcomes of these different choices.
我们需要诚实地谈论这些不同选择的可能结果。 - We'd be fine if someone gave us $200,000 but that, unfortunately, is not a likely scenario.
如果有人给我们20万美元，我们会很好，但不幸的是，这是不太可能的情况。 - The rising cost of housing is the most likely culprit.
房价上涨是最有可能的罪魁祸首。 - We discussed the likely consequences of the vote.
我们讨论了投票可能产生的后果。 - The retiring Chairman was photographed having lunch with his likely successor.
这位即将退休的主席被拍到与其可能的继任者共进午餐。 - a list of likely Oscar nominees
可能获得奥斯卡提名的名单 - His movie is still the most likely winner of this year's Best Picture.
他的电影仍然是今年最佳影片的最大赢家。 - a development they believed would make nuclear war more likely
他们认为会加大核战争可能性的一项发展事态 - Juries became increasingly likely to acquit.
陪审团越来越可能作出无罪裁定了。 - Violence may appeal to some viewers, but it's equally likely to put people off.
暴力可能会吸引一些观众，但同样可能会让人反感。 - They're hardly likely to get home before ten.
他们几乎不可能在 10 点以前到家。 - This match was never likely to be a classic.
这场比赛绝不可能成为经典。 - It is entirely likely that the company will make another offer.
该公司完全可能再次报盘。 - It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is worth.
盗贼很可能不知道此物的价值。 - It is highly likely that the factory will have to close.
这家工厂很可能要关闭。 - The doctors didn't think it likely that she would ever heal completely.
医生们认为她不大可能完全康复。
Collocations Dictionaryverbs- appear
- be
- look
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- the most likely explanation/outcome/scenario
- seeming suitable for a purpose
似乎合适的；仿佛恰当的 - She seems the most likely candidate for the job.
这项工作，她似乎是最适宜的人选了。
- She seems the most likely candidate for the job.
词源Middle English: from Old Norse líkligr, from líkr; related to alike.
Idioms
a likely story
- (informal, ironic) used to show that you do not believe what somebody has said
（表示不相信某人的话）说得好像真有这回事似的，煞有介事 - You just found it lying in the street? A likely story!
你刚刚发现它躺在街上？一个可能的故事！ - He said he'd met Rihanna. A likely story.
他说他见过蕾哈娜。一个可能的故事。
- You just found it lying in the street? A likely story!