rather likely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather likely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a moderate level of probability or likelihood regarding a situation or event. Example: "Given the current circumstances, it is rather likely that the meeting will be postponed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The trouble is that this deterrent looks rather likely to backfire.

The Guardian - Opinion

That means busy lawyers on both sides and a test-case rather likely to aid the Eurosceptic case at home.

The Economist

Now that the Supreme Court has again emphasized that federal trial judges have the discretion to move outside the guidelines, further departures are rather likely.

The New York Times

But it is also rather likely that many of these people have given up looking for work at least partly because of economic reasons as well.

The New York Times

What the European Union eventually decides will rather likely have a lot to say about whether other nuclear projects can be built in Britain.

The New York Times

It seems rather likely that she took inspiration for her short story, Other People's Gods, from the entertaining kerfuffle precipitated in Ambridge by the arrival of a Hindu statue in the vicar's living room.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Since most of the quarks in a proton have positive charge, it is in fact rather likely that both Ws will be positive, W⁺ bosons, and will stay that way after they have scattered.

The Guardian

For years he claimed to have been burgled and spied on, before the revelation of Richard Nixon's enemies list made it rather likely that he was telling the truth.

The Guardian - Opinion

"If we are getting for example a massive amount of tweets, photos, Flickr, and YouTube movies about the earthquake in Haiti or Chile, the fact that some of those may be false is rather likely.

The Guardian

The medical director at Hometown Hospice, Dr. Sumpter D. Blackmon, said he relied heavily on the judgment of the hospice's nurses to determine whether prospective patients were rather likely to live longer than six months.

The New York Times

Australia's environmental movement is very sensitive to any threat to the Great Barrier Reef, making it rather likely that a full investigation will be conducted into how the Shen Neng 1 strayed so far off course.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather likely" to express a considered assessment of probability, indicating something is more than just possible but not overwhelmingly certain. This phrase is particularly useful when tempering expectations or introducing a degree of uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "rather likely" when the outcome is virtually guaranteed. In situations where certainty is high, stronger expressions like "certainly" or "undoubtedly" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather likely" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifically modifying an adjective or adjectival phrase to express a degree of probability. As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather likely" is a versatile phrase used to express a moderate level of probability, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically sound and frequently appears in both formal and informal writing, particularly in scientific and journalistic contexts. While similar to phrases like "quite likely" and "fairly probable", it's important to use it judiciously, ensuring it aligns with the intended level of certainty. Avoiding overstatement and choosing stronger alternatives when appropriate will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite likely

Expresses a moderate to high degree of probability, closely resembling the meaning of 'rather likely'.

reasonably likely

Indicates that something is plausible and has a good chance of happening, similar to 'rather likely'.

quite probable

Expresses a high degree of probability, similar to 'rather likely' but might suggest a slightly stronger likelihood.

fairly probable

Indicates a good chance of something happening, similar to 'rather likely' in its implication of likelihood.

somewhat probable

Suggests a moderate level of probability, similar to 'rather likely' but perhaps with a slightly weaker emphasis.

plausibly expected

Expresses that something is reasonably anticipated to occur, aligning with the sense of 'rather likely'.

highly possible

Emphasizes the possibility of something occurring, though it might not necessarily be the most probable outcome.

distinctly possible

Suggests that something is clearly within the realm of possibility, though not necessarily guaranteed.

well conceivable

Indicates that something can be easily imagined or conceived as a possibility.

conceivably anticipated

Suggests that something can be thought of as something which may occur.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather likely" to express a moderate level of probability. For example, "Given the circumstances, it's "rather likely" that the project will be delayed".

What are some alternatives to "rather likely"?

Alternatives include "quite likely", "fairly probable", or "reasonably likely", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "rather likely" formal or informal?

"Rather likely" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its level of formality is neutral, making it versatile for various writing styles.

How does "rather likely" differ from "very likely"?

"Rather likely" suggests a moderate probability, whereas "very likely" implies a higher degree of certainty. Use "rather likely" when you want to express that something is probable but not guaranteed.