somewhat likely

USAGE SUMMARY

"somewhat likely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that's more likely than not, but not a sure thing. For example, "It is somewhat likely that the weather tomorrow will be sunny."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Half foresaw a very or somewhat likely military intervention in Iran.

The New York Times

Those respondents who said that they were "somewhat likely" to vote were questioned further.

The New Yorker

The remainder — 32percentt — put themselves in the "somewhat likely" category.

The Washington Post

A total of 93% were very or somewhat likely to allow their own data to be shared with university scientists, and 82% were very or somewhat likely to share with scientists in for-profit companies.

Stanford University

Is the defendant, say, very likely or only somewhat likely to get another speeding ticket in the next year?

Stanford University

Do you think a recession over the next year is very likely, somewhat likely, somewhat unlikely or very unlikely?

The Washington Post

Almost two-thirds say that a new intifada (uprising) if current peace negotiations collapse is very or somewhat likely.

The Guardian

While only 2% described themselves as "rich", 31% thought it very likely or somewhat likely they would "ever be rich".

The Guardian

Other pollsters apply looser screens, folding in independents or voters who say that they are somewhat likely to vote.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

HIV risk perception was categorized as 'very likely'somewhathat likely'notnot likely at all' or 'unsure'unsure

BMC Public Health

Eighty fourpercentt of our sample was 'very' or 'somewhat' likely to provide a sample for research in the future.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "somewhat likely" when you want to express a degree of probability that is greater than uncertain, but less than probable. It is ideal for scenarios where a definitive prediction is not possible.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat likely" when the evidence strongly suggests a higher probability. Overstating uncertainty can undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat likely" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb or adjective, expressing a moderate degree of probability or likelihood. Ludwig provides numerous examples across diverse contexts, confirming its role in conveying uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

24%

Science

21%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "somewhat likely" is a versatile phrase used to express a moderate degree of probability across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its prevalence in news, academic, and scientific domains. When writing, use "somewhat likely" to convey an outcome that is more than just possible, but not confidently predicted. While its register is mostly neutral, consider "reasonably likely" or "moderately probable" for more formal settings. Be mindful not to overstate the likelihood if the evidence points towards a higher certainty.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reasonably likely

Replaces "somewhat" with "reasonably", indicating a slightly higher degree of confidence.

moderately probable

Substitutes both words to use synonyms, maintaining a similar level of possibility.

possibly

Offers a shorter alternative focusing on possibility, with a less specific degree of likelihood.

conceivably

Indicates that something is within the realm of possibility, though not necessarily probable.

potentially

Highlights the potential for something to occur, without specifying the likelihood.

not improbable

Uses a double negative to suggest a degree of likelihood, though less direct.

within the realm of possibility

Emphasizes possibility rather than likelihood, suggesting a broader range of outcomes.

a chance exists

Highlights the existence of a chance, implying a lower level of likelihood.

perhaps

Offers a simpler and more informal way to express uncertainty.

maybe

Similar to "perhaps" but even more colloquial and less specific.

FAQs

How to use "somewhat likely" in a sentence?

You can use "somewhat likely" to describe events that have a moderate chance of occurring. For example, "It is somewhat likely that the company will announce new products next quarter."

What can I say instead of "somewhat likely"?

You can use alternatives like "reasonably likely", "moderately probable", or "possibly" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "somewhat likely" and "very likely"?

"Somewhat likely" suggests a moderate probability, while "very likely" indicates a high probability. The choice depends on the strength of the evidence supporting the event.

Is "somewhat likely" formal or informal?

"Somewhat likely" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "moderately probable" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.