probable1 adjectiveprobable2 noun
probableprob‧a‧ble1 /ˈprɒbəbəl $ ˈprɑː-/ ●●○ adjective 
WORD ORIGINprobable1
Origin:
1300-1400 French, Latin probabilis, from probare; ➔ PROBE2EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- It seems probable that the election will be held in May.
- Light rain is probable tomorrow evening.
- Measles is the probable cause of illness in the three athletes.
- The project will go ahead, at a probable cost of $2.1 million.
- The report states that the probable cause of death was a heart attack.
- Unless the government agrees to further talks, a strike seems highly probable.
- He openly talked of him as the probable successor to the see of Canterbury.
- If the measure passes the House, Senate approval is considered probable.
- It is probable that deliberate equivocation in respect of the intended sense of word forms is always to some extent odd.
- It is probable that in retrospect he gave that factor more weight than it carried at the time.
- It is very probable that Grey took some part in Leapor's subscription.
- It will give them crucial details about his shoe size and probable height and weight.
- She disposed quickly of red herrings, usually sought out the least probable suspect and rarely failed.
- There is no record of Osbald's parentage but a Bernician extraction seems highly probable.
Longman Language Activatorwhen it is likely that something will happen or is true
when something will probably happen or is probably true: · "Where is she?" "Probably in her room."· We'll probably be shooting the movie on location in Europe.· Archaeologists think the temple was probably built in the 3rd century AD.· He wrote dozens of books, but this is probably his best-known novel.
something that is likely will probably happen or is probably true: · The most likely result is a win for the Democrats.likely to do something: · The price of petrol is likely to rise again this year.very likely: · The jury is very likely to believe he was in the apartment at the time of the crime.something seems likely: · A peace settlement now seems likely.it is likely (that): · It is likely that the girl knew her killer.
formal likely to be true or likely to happen: it is/seems probable (that): · It seems probable that the election will be held in May.highly probable (=when something will almost certainly happen): · Unless the government agrees to further talks, a strike seems highly probable.probable cause: · The report states that the probable cause of death was a heart attack.probable cost/result/outcome etc: · The project will go ahead, at a probable cost of $2.1 million.
to be very likely: · The withdrawal of the allied forces is now a strong possibility.be a strong possibility (that): · There is a strong possibility that both the murders were committed by one man.be a strong possibility of: · The weather forecast says that there's a strong possibility of snow.
spoken say this when the present situation makes you think that something is likely to happen or likely to be true: · There aren't any taxis. It looks as if we'll have to walk.· Ted should be here by now. It looks like he's been delayed.it looks like being British: · From the agenda, it looks like being a long meeting.
if something may well happen or may well be true, it is fairly likely to happen or to be true: · Take an umbrella. It might well rain later on.· That's only my opinion. I could well be wrong.· The eruption of Santorini in 1470 BC may well have been heard as far away as Britain.it may well be (that): · It could well be that it is too late for us to reverse the effects of global warming.something may well be the case: · "Apparently, interest rates could rise again next month." "Yes, that might well be the case."
British /be in the cards American use this to say that something is likely to happen because of the present situation: · They say that another recession is on the cards.· No one was surprised when they got a divorce. It had been on the cards for years.· I was hoping for a promotion, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards right now.
also I guess American spoken say this when you think something is likely to be true or likely to happen: I suppose (that): · There was no reply when I phoned - I suppose she's still at work.· I suppose that they'll do some sightseeing while they're here.· I guess Kathy will want to bring her boyfriend.I suppose so/I guess so (=use this to answer a question): · "Is Bill coming too?" "I suppose so."· "If you don't pass the test, will you take it again?" "I guess so."
British /I would think/guess American spoken say this when you know enough about a situation to think something is likely to be true or likely to happen: · The garden's about 100 metres long, I would guess.I should think (that): · I should think she's about 24 or 25.· I would think that almost everyone could get here on a Saturday. I should/would think so: · "Will the match still go ahead?'' "Yes, I should think so.''
spoken say this when you know enough about a situation to think that something is likely to happen or be true, especially something special or unusual: I wouldn't be surprised if: · You know, I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to get married.I wouldn't be surprised to hear/see/find etc that: · I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she'd left that job by now.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Success is highly probable. The probable result of global warming will be a rise in sea levels.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It’s highly unlikely that the project will be finished on time.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
Success is highly probable. The probable result of global warming will be a rise in sea levels.· The probable cause of the fire was faulty wiring.
(=one that is probably true)· The most likely explanation is that John missed the bus.· The most probable explanation is that the water was contaminated.
It’s highly unlikely that the project will be finished on time.· There is no record of Osbald's parentage but a Bernician extraction seems highly probable.· But the generality and power can vary from the local and tentative to the universal and highly probable.· It is highly probable that book provision and use will be a significant component in such inspections.· It is highly probable that many of those in the initial cohort of patients would have died.
· Short gaps are thus more probable than long ones.· That it makes the proposition for which it is offered more probable.· A different principle of development - indeed, a reversal of the principle of increasing elaboration - seems more probable.· It would be reasonable to accept any postulate that would make it more probable.· It was held that the plaintiff had to show it was more probable than not that the injury was due to faulty manufacture.· Even more probable than the extinction of humanity is a catastrophe that destroys our culture while leaving some humans still alive.· Or else, which is more probable, the infection is particularly deadly to rabbits.· Which of these two readings is more probable?
· Battiness - premature senility of some sort - seemed the most probable explanation of the whole affair.· The most probable to go is William VanLandingham, who has been so inconsistent with the Giants.· Weld has left three in at the four day stage with Steel Chimes looking the most probable runner.· The most probable reading is the second.· A nearly zero value, however, will be by far the most probable.· The most probable cause of the problem was the males being infertile.· Grismore believes high-altitude nuclear tests are the most probable source of the radioactive specks.· The probability of each parse was then calculated and the most probable parse selected.
· It's quite probable that they did most of their courting in the cinema.· It's quite probable that extensive cultivation here has erased any traces there may have been.· It is quite probable that both IgE and enzyme deficiencies are important in causing the symptoms.· Yet it is quite probable that she bears not a single one of the old king's genes.· It is quite probable that religious symbolism was once exclusive to each particular faith.
· It is also very probable that the cognitive style which overinclusive and divergent thinking have in common is strongly inherited.· It is very probable that Grey took some part in Leapor's subscription.· In practice it is very probable that they do not.· It is very probable that such differences do exist, and will be identified by suitable research work.· This is most unlikely if the shares are listed but very probable if the company is a private one.· But that something like this happened is very probable.
NOUN· The most probable cause of the problem was the males being infertile.· The issue then was whether the Commonwealth had probable cause sufficient to justify those seizures.· Makers Adam Leisure, of Harrogate, said the probable cause of the fire was a faulty plug socket or wiring.· According to a probable cause affidavit, Tarver and his girlfriend began to fight over money.· The probable cause in this child's case was a viral infection.· But a federal judge ruled last May that probable cause existed to grant the extradition.· Here the judge seemed to raise the bar in the test for probable cause.
· It was held that the accused was aware of the probable consequences of firing the gun as he did.· The probable consequence is that doctors will be given the task.
· The most probable outcome is 100-150 deaths from thyroid cancer over the same period.
WORD FAMILYnounprobabilityprobableadjectiveprobable ≠ improbableadverbprobably ≠ improbably
likely to exist, happen, or be true: The probable cause of the fire was faulty wiring. Success is highly probable.it is probable (that) It seems probable that the accident has damaged her brain.probable outcome/consequence/result The probable result of global warming will be a rise in sea levels.probable1 adjectiveprobable2 noun
probableprobable2 noun [countable] EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Four further claims for Hurricanes were made by all 12 pilots of the 156° Gruppo jointly, two confirmed and two probables.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It’s highly unlikely that the project will be finished on time.
· The probable cause of the fire was faulty wiring.
(=one that is probably true)· The most likely explanation is that John missed the bus.· The most probable explanation is that the water was contaminated.
It’s highly unlikely that the project will be finished on time.WORD FAMILYnounprobabilityprobableadjectiveprobable ≠ improbableadverbprobably ≠ improbably
someone who is likely to be chosen for a team, to win a race etc