highly probable

USAGE SUMMARY

"highly probable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or outcome which has a very strong chance of occurring. For example: "It is highly probable that the candidate with the most experience will be selected for the job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"This sounds highly probable".

Independent

"But these sites are highly probable".

The New York Times

A total above £20m looks highly probable.

The Guardian - Film

In fact, it seems highly probable.

The Guardian

Even so, one thing stands out as being highly probable.

The Guardian

"An eventual liquidation of the company is highly probable".

The New York Times

Given the likely scale of Labour's loss, it is now highly probable that Miliband will resign.

The Guardian

It was highly probable that East had no more clubs and was hoping for a ruff.

The New York Times - Arts

That made it highly probable that East held at least five clubs.

The New York Times - Arts

"He said it was possible — highly probable — that there were R.U.F.

The New York Times

It is highly probable that the referendum will be decided by them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly probable" when you want to express a strong belief that something will occur, based on available evidence or reasoning. It's suitable for formal writing and discussions where precision is important.

Common error

Avoid using "highly probable" when the outcome is merely possible but lacks substantial evidence. Using it in such cases can mislead your audience and undermine your credibility. Consider using weaker alternatives such as "potentially possible" or "conceivable" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly probable" functions as an adjectival phrase used to modify a noun or pronoun. It indicates a strong degree of likelihood or certainty about a particular event, outcome, or statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "highly probable" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey a strong likelihood or certainty. As Ludwig AI states, it’s suitable for describing situations with a very strong chance of occurring. Analysis of examples reveals its prevalence in news, scientific, and encyclopedia sources. While perfectly acceptable, be mindful of overstating certainty when the evidence is lacking. Alternatives like "very likely" or "almost certain" offer nuanced alternatives, but "highly probable" provides a formal and precise means of expressing conviction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

very likely

Emphasizes a strong chance of occurrence, similar to "highly probable" but with less formal tone.

highly likely

Direct synonym with very slight difference in tone.

almost certain

Suggests a near guarantee, indicating an even stronger likelihood than "highly probable".

quite probable

Indicates a strong probability, but slightly less emphatic than "highly probable".

most probable

Implies that this outcome is more likely than all other possibilities.

distinctly possible

Suggests a clear possibility, though may not be as strong as "highly probable".

reasonably certain

Expresses a good degree of confidence in the outcome, though perhaps not absolute certainty.

virtually assured

Indicates a very strong expectation of occurrence, close to guaranteed.

odds-on favorite

Borrowed from gambling context, strongly suggests a particular outcome is likely.

in all likelihood

An idiom emphasizing the high chance of something happening.

FAQs

How can I use "highly probable" in a sentence?

You can use "highly probable" to describe events or outcomes that have a strong likelihood of occurring, such as, "It is "highly probable" that the meeting will be delayed due to the weather."

What are some alternatives to saying "highly probable"?

Alternatives include "very likely", "almost certain", or "quite probable depending on the context".

Is there a difference between "highly probable" and "highly possible"?

"Highly probable" suggests a greater degree of certainty than "highly possible". "Highly possible" indicates something could happen, while "highly probable" suggests it is likely to happen.

When is it appropriate to use "highly probable" in writing?

Use "highly probable" in formal writing when you want to convey a strong likelihood based on evidence or reasoning. It is suitable for academic papers, reports, and professional correspondence.