likely

/ˈlaɪkli/

//ˈlaɪkli// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"likely" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“likely” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #637 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#637
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
12
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

likely vs lily
67% similar
likely vs likes
67% similar
likely vs Lilly
50% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for likely
PropertyValue
Headwordlikely
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˈlaɪkli/
Letters6
Frequency rank#637
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs12
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “likely” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). likely lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for likely is 6 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈlaɪkli/. Corpus data places it at rank #637 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 7 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for likely, with forms such as "ilkely", "liekly", and "likelly". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 12 confusable-pair relationships, "lily", "likes", "Lilly", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċ (“suitable”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”) (probably independent formations), equivalent to like + -ly (adjectival suffix). The correct English form is likely, spelled L-I-K-E-L-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
  2. 2
    Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable.
  3. 3
    Appropriate, suitable; believable; promising, having a good potential.
  4. 4
    Plausible; within the realm of credibility.
  5. 5
    Leading with high probability to some specified outcome.
  6. 6
    Attractive; pleasant.
  7. 7
    Similar; like; alike.

Etymology

From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċ (“suitable”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”) (probably independent formations), equivalent to like + -ly (adjectival suffix).

Synonyms

liable

This word in other languages

probable(Español)probable(Français)wahrscheinlich(Deutsch)provável(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: ilkely,liekly,likelly,likelyy,likeyl,likkely,likley,lkiely,llikely

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of likely - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ilkely2liekly2likelly1likelyy1likeyl2likkely1likley2lkiely2
Edit distance from "likely"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "likely"?
"likely" is spelled L-I-K-E-L-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈlaɪkli/.
What does "likely" mean?
As an adjective, "likely" means: Probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.
What words are commonly confused with "likely"?
"likely" is commonly confused with "lily", "likes", "Lilly". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "likely"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "likely" is /ˈlaɪkli/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "likely"?
From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ġelīclīċ (“suitable”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”) (probably independent formations), equivalent to like + -ly (adjectival suffix). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “likely”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is L-I-K-E-L-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈlaɪkli/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “lily” - see the side-by-side comparison. likely vs lily
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list