# likely

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈlaɪkli/ · frequency rank #637

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

## Easily confused with
- **lily** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-lily)
- **likes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-likes)
- **Lilly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-lilly)
- **liken** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-liken)
- **lovely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-lovely)
- **lonely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-lonely)
- **lively** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-lively)
- **livery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/likely-vs-livery)
- **like** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/like-vs-likely)
- **liked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liked-vs-likely)
- **libel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/libel-vs-likely)
- **lately** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lately-vs-likely)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ilkely`, `liekly`, `likelly`, `likelyy`, `likeyl`, `likkely`, `likley`, `lkiely`, `llikely`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/likely