probable
/ˈprɒbəb(ə)l
/adjective [often with clause]
Likely to happen or be the case: it is probable that the economic situation will deteriorate further the probable consequences of his action...
- ‘It's possible and indeed quite probable that she stopped in there,’ he added.
- It is also not very probable that his nomination would often be overruled.
- It's very probable that the same thing is going on in Indonesia now.
Synonyms
likely, most likely, odds-on, expected, to be expected, anticipated, predictable, foreseeable, ten to one, presumed, potential, credible, quite possible, possible, feasible
informal on the cards, a good/fair/reasonable bet
noun British
A person who is likely to become or do something, especially one who is likely to be chosen for a team: Merson and Wright are probables...
- He also underlined that too much fuss should not be created over the teams and probables selected on Sunday.
- She was immediately selected as one among the 18 probables for the Kerala team.
- He was in the list of the probables for the Indian team for four years and was finally selected to represent the country while he was pursuing medicine in Thanjavur Medical College in 1985.
Origin
Late Middle English (in the sense 'worthy of belief'): via Old French from Latin probabilis, from probare 'to test, demonstrate'.