as in probability
the quality or state of being likely to occur
the weatherman on TV said that the likelihood of rain today was fairly high
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of likelihood
If rates rise, your payments could increase as well, and there's a real likelihood of that happening in today's inflationary environment.
—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The Climate Prediction Center, a specialized branch of the National Weather Service, is expecting a greater likelihood for above-average temperatures for California in the second and third weeks of July.
—
Sean MacAday,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
Fed funds futures are pricing in a 64% likelihood of the central bank raising rates at its September meeting, according to CME's FedWatch tool.
—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
29 June 2026
Sleep quality is also a factor, and there are a few tips that can improve the likelihood that a sleep session is top notch.
—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
The Climate Prediction Center, a specialized branch of the National Weather Service, is expecting a greater likelihood for above-average temperatures for California in the second and third weeks of July.
—
Sean MacAday,
Sacbee.com,
29 June 2026
Fed funds futures are pricing in a 64% likelihood of the central bank raising rates at its September meeting, according to CME's FedWatch tool.
—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
29 June 2026
Sleep quality is also a factor, and there are a few tips that can improve the likelihood that a sleep session is top notch.
—
Matt Parrott,
Arkansas Online,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for likelihood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likelihood
probability
Noun
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
-
The model assigns Morocco a higher probability than either the sportsbook or the prediction market, with gaps of roughly three percentage points in both cases.
Cite this Entry
“Likelihood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likelihood. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
