was likely to

USAGE SUMMARY

"was likely to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a potential outcome or something that is likely to occur in the future. For example: "The forecast suggested that there was likely to be heavy rain later in the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

was likely to face.

The New Yorker

Studies indicated this was likely to continue.

Stanford University

He said this was likely to repeated.

The Guardian - Business

Economists said worse was likely to come.

The Guardian - Business

The death toll was likely to rise.

The Guardian

The trend was likely to continue.

The Times

Others said the pace was likely to be temporary.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This by itself was likely to elicit disagreement.

Harvard University

She said the investigation was likely to take several weeks.

The New York Times

What if I learned I was likely to die young?

The New York Times

Anything not canceled was likely to be delayed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "was likely to" with adverbs of degree to refine the level of certainty. For example, you could say "It was highly likely to succeed" or "It was less likely to occur".

Common error

Avoid using "was likely to" when you want to express something that is definitively going to happen. Using a phrase such as "will certainly" is more appropriate in those scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was likely to" functions as an auxiliary construction expressing a past probability or expectation. As indicated by Ludwig, it frames an action or event as reasonably predictable based on available information. Examples show its use across varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

22%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was likely to" is a versatile phrase used to express past probability or expectation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and academic sources, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for formal communication. When writing, use it to express reasonable expectations based on available information, but avoid overstating certainty. By understanding its function, purpose, and register, you can effectively incorporate "was likely to" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was probable that

Replaces the adjective "likely" with "probable", maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

was expected to

Substitutes "likely" with "expected", implying a prediction based on evidence or trends.

was anticipated to

Similar to "was expected to" but suggests a more formal and perhaps official expectation.

had a high probability of

Uses a more explicit probability phrase, which can be suitable in scientific or analytical contexts.

was poised to

Suggests that something was ready and on the verge of happening, implying a strong likelihood.

was on track to

Implies that something was progressing as planned and was therefore likely to happen.

was apt to

Uses "apt" to suggest a natural tendency or inclination, indicating a high likelihood.

could well

Offers a more informal alternative, indicating a good possibility of something happening.

would probably

Employs "probably" to soften the assertion, suggesting likelihood without strong certainty.

was inclined to

Suggests a leaning or predisposition towards a particular action or outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "was likely to" in a sentence?

"Was likely to" indicates a past probability. For example, "Given his experience, he was likely to get the job." It suggests a reasonable expectation based on available information.

What's a more formal alternative to "was likely to"?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "was probable that" or "was anticipated to". These alternatives maintain a sense of expectation while sounding more sophisticated.

How does "was likely to" differ from "is likely to"?

"Was likely to" refers to a past expectation, whereas "is likely to" indicates a current or future expectation. "He was likely to win" suggests he had a good chance at some point in the past; "He is likely to win" suggests he has a good chance now or in the future.

What are some common synonyms for "was likely to"?

Common synonyms include "was expected to", "was inclined to", or "was apt to". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.