highly unlikely

USAGE SUMMARY

"highly unlikely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is unlikely to happen or be true. For example: It is highly unlikely that I will win the lottery.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Highly unlikely.

The New York Times

This is highly unlikely.

The Economist

That is highly unlikely.

The New York Times

(Highly unlikely, but possible).

The New York Times - Magazine

That seems highly unlikely.

The New York Times

A. Highly unlikely.

The New York Times

This seems highly unlikely.

The Economist

That's highly unlikely.

The New York Times

But this seems highly unlikely.

The Economist

It is highly unlikely.

The Guardian - Sport

I'd say: highly unlikely.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly unlikely" to express a strong disbelief or low probability of an event occurring. It adds emphasis compared to simply saying "unlikely".

Common error

Avoid using "highly unlikely" when a situation is merely uncertain rather than improbable. Reserve it for scenarios where the odds are demonstrably against the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly unlikely" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "unlikely". It serves to qualify a statement, indicating a low probability of an event or situation, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "highly unlikely" is grammatically correct and very commonly used to express a strong sense of improbability. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media, with neutral register, suitable for diverse contexts. Related phrases include "extremely improbable" and "very doubtful". When using "highly unlikely", ensure it reflects a genuine assessment of low probability rather than mere uncertainty. It's important to note that according to authoritative sources, the register of "highly unlikely" is considered to be neutral and can be used in many types of communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely improbable

Replaces "unlikely" with a stronger synonym, emphasizing the low probability.

very doubtful

Substitutes "unlikely" with "doubtful", focusing on the uncertainty of an event.

scarcely possible

Emphasizes the difficulty for something to occur.

not a chance

An informal idiom expressing near impossibility.

slim chance

Indicates a very low probability of something happening.

hardly imaginable

Highlights the difficulty in conceiving the possibility of something.

remote possibility

Suggests that something is possible, but not probable.

next to impossible

Expresses that something is almost impossible to achieve.

against all odds

Highlights the unfavorable conditions that make something unlikely.

not in the cards

An idiomatic expression suggesting that something is not destined to happen.

FAQs

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

You can use "highly unlikely" to express a strong disbelief or low probability of an event occurring. For example, "It is "highly unlikely" that I will win the lottery".

What are some alternatives to saying "highly unlikely"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely improbable", "very doubtful", or "scarcely possible" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "highly unlikely" or "very unlikely"?

"Highly unlikely" suggests a slightly stronger degree of improbability compared to "very unlikely". The choice depends on the level of emphasis you want to convey.

What is the difference between "unlikely" and "highly unlikely"?

While both express improbability, "highly unlikely" emphasizes a significantly lower chance of occurrence. It is a more emphatic way of saying something is not expected to happen.