are likely

USAGE SUMMARY

"are likely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express probability or uncertainty. For example: "These products are likely to be popular with our customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More revelations are likely.

The New York Times

Political recriminations are likely.

The New York Times

More are likely to.

The Economist

More deals are likely.

The Economist

But reprisals are likely.

The Economist

Several reasons are likely.

The New York Times

More headlines are likely.

The Economist

More concessions are likely.

The Economist

More sanctions are likely.

The New York Times

Changes are likely for Boston.

The New York Times - Sports

More such deals are likely.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are likely" to express a reasonable expectation or probability based on available evidence. Ensure the subject aligns logically with the predicted outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "are likely" when the outcome is already known or highly certain. Opt for stronger verbs or adverbs to reflect the level of certainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are likely" functions as a modal expression, indicating a degree of probability or expectation. It modifies a statement, suggesting that something is probable but not certain. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are likely" is a versatile expression used to indicate a reasonable expectation or probability. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts. It’s most frequently found in news and media, science, and formal business writing. While it doesn't denote absolute certainty, it expresses a well-founded anticipation, making it a useful tool for predictions and forecasts. Remember to ensure subject-verb agreement, using "is likely" for singular subjects and "are likely" for plural subjects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are probable

Uses a single adjective to convey the likelihood, which can be more concise.

it is likely that

Adds a clause to emphasize the degree of probability.

will likely

Changes the structure to use "likely" as an adverb modifying "will".

are expected

Suggests a stronger anticipation based on prior events or patterns.

it is probable that

Replaces "likely" with its synonym "probable" with the additional clause that emphasizes the degree of probability.

it's anticipated that

Uses a passive construction to denote expectation.

are liable

Implies a potential negative consequence or obligation.

it's to be expected that

Offers a more passive and anticipatory tone.

it's reasonable to assume

Indicates a conclusion based on available information.

one can anticipate

Emphasizes the ability to foresee or predict an outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "are likely" in a sentence?

Use "are likely" to indicate a high probability or expectation of something happening. For example, "Delays "are likely" due to the storm" suggests that delays are probable but not guaranteed.

What can I say instead of "are likely"?

You can use alternatives like "are probable", "are expected", or "will likely" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "is likely" instead of "are likely"?

The correctness depends on the subject's number. Use "is likely" with singular subjects (e.g., "Rain is likely"), and "are likely" with plural subjects (e.g., "Changes "are likely"").

What's the difference between "are likely" and "are certain"?

"Are likely" indicates a high probability but not a guarantee, whereas "are certain" implies a definite outcome with no uncertainty. For instance, "Mistakes "are likely" during the initial phase" suggests mistakes are probable, while "Mistakes "are certain"" would mean mistakes will definitely occur.