probable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "probable" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is likely to occur or be true. For example, "The probable cause of the power outage was an overloaded circuit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Sierra Leone ministry of health refused to share data in the early outbreak and instructed the WHO to report only lab-confirmed deaths, thereby excluding the "probable" and "suspect" cases that could not be tested because of the lack of testing facilities.

The Guardian

Reserves in turn break down into proven reserves (usually defined as those with a 90% chance of eventually being taken out of the ground) and much bigger probable reserves.

The Guardian

But as we move towards resolution, two points of pushback are probable.

The Guardian

"It is probable, therefore, that funds would be remitted in the first instance, to an unnamed account in a Swiss bank – and that the transfer from there to this country would take the form of a movement of banknotes.

The Guardian

One thing that seems probable, if this turn is to be given to dramatic enterprise, is that we shall soon have Ministerial and Opposition theatres as well as newspapers.

The Guardian

If there is probable cause to suspect an individual of working with terrorists, seeking to injure or murder other Americans, we need to have the tools to prevent those attacks before they occur".

The Guardian

Turning down such an opportunity troubled me more than my probable failure.

The Guardian

At this point it seemed probable that the Dutch would go on to burnish the scoreline even farther.

The Guardian - Sport

Further revisions are probable, given government's history of inaccurate forecasts.

The Guardian

It looks likely that it will be a much messier hung parliament than the last one and quite probable that the Lib Dems alone won't have enough MPs to be able to supply a majority to one of the larger parties.

The Guardian

Troy Davis, the last prisoner to be executed in Georgia amid a huge international outcry about his probable innocence, had three scheduled execution dates before he was killed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "probable" when you want to express a degree of likelihood that is more than possible but less than certain. It's suitable for situations where there's some evidence or reason to believe something is true, but definitive proof is lacking.

Common error

Avoid using "probable" when you mean "provable". "Probable" suggests likelihood, while "provable" suggests something can be demonstrated with evidence or proof. Using them interchangeably can lead to miscommunication about the certainty of a claim.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "probable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something as likely to happen or be true. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

25%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "probable" functions as an adjective to denote something that is likely to occur or be true. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, especially in news, business, and scientific writing. While alternatives like "likely" and "plausible" exist, "probable" maintains a distinct emphasis on likelihood based on evidence, distinguishing it from mere possibility. Avoid confusing it with "provable", which implies a higher degree of certainty. Remember to use "probable" when you want to express a degree of likelihood that is more than possible but less than certain. The most frequent contexts are News & Media (48%), Formal & Business (27%) and Science (25%).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

likely

Indicates a high chance of something occurring or being true, similar to "probable" but often used more broadly.

plausible

Suggests that something is believable or could be true, focusing more on credibility than statistical likelihood.

presumable

Implies that something can be assumed based on available evidence, with a slightly stronger emphasis on assumption.

conceivable

Indicates that something is possible, though not necessarily likely.

credible

Highlights the believability or trustworthiness of something.

possible

Indicates a state of being able to happen or exist.

believable

Emphasizes that something is capable of being believed.

tenable

Indicates that something is defensible or maintainable, especially in argument or debate.

ostensible

Implies that something appears to be true but may not be.

speculative

Suggests that something is based on conjecture or guesswork, rather than firm evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "probable" in a sentence?

You can use "probable" to indicate that something is likely to happen or be true. For example, "It is "probable that" the meeting will be delayed".

What are some alternatives to using "probable"?

Depending on the context, you can use words like "likely", "plausible", or "possible" as alternatives to "probable".

Is it correct to say "highly probable"?

Yes, "highly probable" is correct. It emphasizes a greater degree of likelihood compared to just "probable".

What is the difference between "probable" and "possible"?

"Probable" suggests a higher degree of likelihood than "possible". Something that is "possible" could happen, while something that is "probable" is more likely to happen.