likely to accept

USAGE SUMMARY

"likely to accept" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the probability of someone agreeing to a proposal or offer. For example: "She is likely to accept the job offer." Alternative expressions include "probable to accept" and "expected to accept."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(A-listers are more likely to accept it from a Brit like Ricky Gervais).

The Guardian - Film

Is Snowden likely to accept?

The Guardian

"They are less likely to accept my saying that".

The Guardian - Opinion

Owners of houses are more likely to accept a pet".

The New York Times

Officials there said they are likely to accept it.

The New York Times

Of the three, Kuroda is the most likely to accept.

The New York Times

But they are likely to accept the deal.

The Economist

Ventura would be less likely to accept a one-year offer from another team.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Hussein would now be likely to accept such an intrusive U.N. operation.

The New York Times

The salary was less than any qualified teacher would be likely to accept.

The New Yorker

Most are considered loyal to him and therefore quite likely to accept the new decision.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In journalistic reporting, use it to signal informed speculation about a person's upcoming decision or response to an offer.

Common error

A common mistake is using a gerund after the adjective, resulting in 'likely for accepting'. Standard English requires the infinitive form to follow 'likely' in this context. Always use the structure 'likely to' followed by the base verb 'accept'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "likely to accept" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a to-infinitive. It typically serves as a subject complement after a linking verb (e.g., 'is', 'seem'). According to Ludwig, this construction is the standard way to express the probability of an action being performed by the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

As demonstrated by Ludwig AI, "likely to accept" is a robust and universally accepted phrase in English. It is a preferred choice for high-tier publications like The Economist and The Guardian when predicting outcomes in politics, finance and science. The phrase is grammatically sound, requiring the infinitive 'to accept' rather than a gerund. Whether you are writing a research paper about patient behavior or a business report on a potential merger, "likely to accept" provides the necessary nuance to discuss probability with professional precision. It remains one of the most effective ways to bridge the gap between speculative prediction and evidence-based reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inclined to accept

Suggests a personal tendency or predisposition toward saying yes.

disposed to accept

A more formal synonym that implies a favorable mindset.

expected to accept

Shifts the focus to external predictions or anticipation by others.

prone to accept

Often used when the tendency to accept is frequent or sometimes habitual.

apt to accept

Implies a natural or inherent fitness for accepting a proposal.

willing to accept

Focuses on the subject's consent and desire rather than statistical probability.

prepared to accept

Indicates readiness or a calculated decision to agree.

liable to accept

Sometimes carries a nuance of risk or unintended consequence.

probable to accept

More clinical and less idiomatic but mathematically accurate.

receptive to

Focuses on the subject's openness to an idea rather than the act of acceptance itself.

FAQs

How do I use "likely to accept" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe the probability of a subject agreeing to something, such as: "The board is "likely to accept" the new proposal given the current financial climate."

What can I say instead of "likely to accept"?

Depending on the level of formality, you could use "inclined to accept", "expected to agree" or "disposed to accept".

What is the difference between "likely to accept" and "willing to accept"?

The phrase "likely to accept" is a prediction of probability based on evidence or logic, whereas "willing to accept" describes the subject's personal consent or desire to agree.

Is "likely to accept" formal enough for a research paper?

Yes, it is highly appropriate for scientific contexts. Ludwig examples show it is frequently used in journals like "Nature" and "Science Magazine" to describe human or systemic behavior.