How Do You Spell MOST LIKELY?

Pronunciation: [mˈə͡ʊst lˈa͡ɪkli] (IPA)

The spelling of the phrase "most likely" can be broken down into its individual sounds using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first word, "most," is spelled /moʊst/, with the "o" sound as in "boat" and the "st" combination pronounced as a voiceless alveolar fricative. The second word, "likely," is spelled /ˈlaɪkli/, with the "i" sound as in "eye" and the "ly" combination pronounced as a palatal approximant. Together, "most likely" is pronounced as /moʊst ˈlaɪkli/.

MOST LIKELY Meaning and Definition

1. Most likely is an adverbial phrase used to express a high degree of probability or expectation regarding a particular outcome, event, or circumstance. It denotes an estimation or prediction based on available information, evidence, or trends, indicating the anticipated result or occurrence as being the likeliest among multiple possibilities.

   When something is described as "most likely," it implies a strong likelihood or a higher probability compared to other potential alternatives. It suggests that a specific outcome or scenario is expected or anticipated to happen more prominently or frequently than other potential outcomes, although it doesn't guarantee absolute certainty.

   The phrase "most likely" often incorporates subjective judgment and is influenced by various factors such as past experiences, statistical analysis, personal beliefs, or logical reasoning. It is frequently employed in various contexts, including everyday conversations, scientific research, decision-making processes, and investigative settings.

   In summary, "most likely" serves as a linguistic expression to convey a high degree of probability or expectation. It indicates a prominent or favored outcome based on information, evidence, or reasonable assumptions, suggesting that the specified circumstance or event is anticipated to occur more frequently or prominently than other possibilities.

Common Misspellings for MOST LIKELY

• mostlikely

Etymology of MOST LIKELY

The word "likely" originated from the Old English word "gelic", which means "similar" or "alike". The prefix "most" comes from the Old English word "māst", meaning "greatest" or "most". Therefore, the term "most likely" combines the superlative form "most" with the adjective "likely" to express the highest degree of probability or possibility.