Likeliest Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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likeliest

[หˆlaษชkliษ›st ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

degree of probability

Likeliest refers to the highest probability or the most expected outcome among various possibilities. It denotes the option that is most likely to occur based on available information or evidence.

Synonyms

highest chance, most likely, most probable.

Examples of usage

  • She's the likeliest candidate for the job.
  • The likeliest outcome of the negotiations is a compromise.
  • With the weather forecast, rain is the likeliest scenario for tomorrow.
  • In this game, he's the likeliest to win.
  • Given the evidence, he's the likeliest suspect.

Translations

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Origin of 'likeliest'

The word 'likeliest' is derived from the word 'likely', which has its origins in the Old Norse term 'lรญkleg', meaning 'likely, probable'. The suffix '-est' indicates the superlative form, used to denote the highest degree of a quality. The use of 'likely' in English can be traced back to the 14th century, evolving through Middle English as 'likli'. Over time, the word has maintained its core meaning of being probable or expected, and 'likeliest' has emerged as the superlative to express the utmost probability among alternatives. The development of this term reflects the linguistic influences from Norse languages into Middle English, showcasing the dynamic nature of language adaptation and evolution in context to probability and likelihood.


Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,793 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.