likely asleep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "likely asleep" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to suggest that someone is probably in a state of sleep, often when discussing their absence or unavailability. Example: "I tried calling her, but she didn't answer; she's likely asleep at this hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Mr. Lanza killed his mother, Nancy Lanza, using a.22-caliber rifle, Dr. Carver told The Hartford Courant, adding that she was most likely asleep at the time.

The New York Times

We've emailed Twitter's PR people to get a response but they are in the US and likely asleep right now.

TechCrunch

(Though it's easy to see why that fantasy exists: Abe's a pill, and if Stan ever ended up in Peggy's bed, he'd probably be really stoned, wearing a stained shirt and most likely asleep).

Huffington Post

Many experienced pumpers have only experienced this a couple of times, and, because you are most likely asleep when it happens, you probably won't even feel any pain.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

— NATE SILVER On the East Coast, all but the most devoted politicos will likely be asleep before results start coming in from Hawaii, which is holding its first ever Republican caucus today.

The New York Times

I've tried to contact Engeström to learn more about what Pingpin is, but have yet to receive a response (according to his Twitter feed, he's attending TechCrunch Disrupt SF so he's likely still asleep).

TechCrunch

Understand that our brains like routine, and Mr. Rockefeller's brain, for years, was in a routine whereby it was most likely soundly asleep shortly after 7 a.m., when this crash occurred Sunday.

Huffington Post

Because she will lose interest and most likely fall asleep.

WikiHow

You will most likely be asleep by the end of all your movies.

WikiHow

You will feel tired and most likely fall asleep Take a refreshing shower.

WikiHow

The puppy will likely fall asleep and then demand the next meal when he is hungry again, or in about 2-3 hours.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "likely asleep" when you want to indicate a reasonable assumption or probability that someone is sleeping, without stating it as a definite fact. This is particularly useful when explaining someone's unavailability or expected behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "likely asleep" when you have concrete evidence that someone is definitely awake or definitely asleep. The phrase implies uncertainty; use more definitive language when certainty exists.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely asleep" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a state of being in which someone or something is probably in the condition of sleep. Ludwig confirms the usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "likely asleep" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to suggest that someone is probably in a state of sleep. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is valid and suitable for use in English writing. It appears most frequently in news, wiki and scientific contexts. While not extremely common, it's a useful phrase for indicating a reasonable assumption about someone's state, as reflected in a variety of sources. Consider using alternatives like "probably sleeping" or "most likely sleeping" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

probably sleeping

Replaces "likely" with "probably", a more common synonym indicating a high probability.

most likely sleeping

Adds "most" for emphasis, suggesting a very high probability of being asleep.

probably fast asleep

Adds "fast" to emphasize the depth of sleep.

in all likelihood asleep

Uses a more formal phrasing to express the probability of being asleep.

asleep, most likely

Inverts the order of the words for emphasis or stylistic variation.

sound asleep, presumably

Implies being deeply asleep, adding a degree of assumption.

sleeping, it is presumed

Offers a more formal and passive way of suggesting that someone is sleeping.

unlikely to be awake

Expresses the idea by negating wakefulness, rather than affirming sleep.

out cold, most probably

Emphasizes deep sleep using a colloquial term.

off in dreamland

Uses a more whimsical and figurative expression to indicate sleep.

FAQs

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

You can use "likely asleep" to suggest someone is probably sleeping. For example, "I didn't call him because he was "likely asleep" at that hour."

What is a more formal alternative to "likely asleep"?

A more formal alternative could be "it is probable that they are sleeping" or "they are "presumably sleeping"".

Is it correct to say "probably asleep" instead of "likely asleep"?

Yes, "probably asleep" is a very similar and commonly used alternative to "likely asleep".

Can "likely asleep" be used to describe animals?

Yes, "likely asleep" can be used to describe animals as well. For instance, "The cat is "likely asleep" under the table."