highly likely to

USAGE SUMMARY

"highly likely to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation in which there is a very great chance of something happening. For example, "The forecast calls for rain, so it is highly likely to be wet outside."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Displays like this are highly likely to take place at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Huffington Post

Mr. Harvey said he was "highly likely" to file suits.

The New York Times

It is highly likely to continue to be expansionary.

The New York Times

Another cluster is determined highly likely to be "barks".

The New York Times - Science

So he was highly likely to have the club ace.

The New York Times

Also, East's hand was highly likely to be unbalanced.

The New York Times

Maureen Hinton, retail analyst at Conlumino, said Primark was highly likely to succeed in America.

The Guardian - Business

The campaign against Al Qaeda, several officials said, is highly likely to take years.

The New York Times

Clearly a predisposition is required, and this is highly likely to be genetic.

The Guardian

The E.P.A. said in 1996 that diesel exhaust was "highly likely" to be carcinogenic when inhaled.

The New York Times

This means you are highly likely to get engagement from at least that person or organisation.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly likely to" when you want to express a strong degree of probability based on available evidence or informed judgment.

Common error

Avoid using "highly likely to" when the outcome is genuinely uncertain or based on speculation. Choose less assertive phrases when expressing doubt.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly likely to" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a verb, indicating a strong probability or expectation of an event or action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

22%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "highly likely to" is a commonly used phrase to express a strong probability or expectation. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability, noting its application across diverse contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for situations where there's a solid basis for prediction. Alternatives like "very probable to" or "almost certain to" can offer nuanced variations. When writing, avoid overstating certainty and consider the context to choose the most appropriate expression. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, science, and academic sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very probable to

Replaces 'likely' with 'probable', emphasizing the chance of occurrence.

extremely probable to

Uses 'extremely' to increase the strength of probability.

almost certain to

Indicates a near certainty, stronger than 'highly likely'.

virtually guaranteed to

Suggests that the outcome is as good as certain.

strongly expected to

Focuses on the expectation rather than pure probability.

odds are high that

An idiomatic expression conveying a high probability.

predominantly expected to

Highlights the majority expectation for a particular outcome.

all but certain to

A more emphatic way of saying almost certain.

in all likelihood

A formal way of expressing high probability.

it is anticipated that

Shifts the focus to anticipation of the event.

FAQs

What does "highly likely to" mean?

The phrase "highly likely to" suggests a very strong probability that something will occur, but it doesn't guarantee certainty. It implies a high degree of confidence based on available evidence.

How can I use "highly likely to" in a sentence?

You can use "highly likely to" to describe expected outcomes. For example, "Given the current economic trends, a recession is "highly likely to" occur."

Which is more probable: "likely to" or "highly likely to"?

"Highly likely to" indicates a greater probability than simply "likely to". The addition of "highly" strengthens the assertion of probability.

What are some alternatives to "highly likely to"?

You can use alternatives like "very probable to", "almost certain to", or "strongly expected to" depending on the nuance you want to convey.