will likely

USAGE SUMMARY

"will likely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate an action that is highly probable. For example: "The weather forecast says it will likely rain tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(A grandchild will likely not like this).

WikiHow

They will likely succeed.

The Economist

That will likely change tonight.

The New York Times

That will likely end soon.

The Economist

Mumbai will likely flood again.

The Guardian

The father will likely survive.

The New York Times

He will likely convince me.

The New York Times

The debate will likely continue.

The New Yorker

The costs will likely be very high.

The New York Times

Whistleblower rewards will likely produce more cases.

The New York Times

California Chrome will likely move on, too.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will likely" to express a strong possibility or expectation, but avoid overusing it in a single piece of writing. Vary your language to maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "will likely" when the outcome is highly uncertain or speculative. Opt for phrases that reflect doubt, such as "might" or "could", to more accurately convey the level of uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will likely" functions as an auxiliary phrase to express a prediction or a high degree of probability regarding a future event. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

23%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will likely" is a common and correct phrase used to express a high degree of probability or expectation about a future event. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, media, and general writing. While versatile, varying your language with alternatives like "is likely to" or "probably will" can enhance your writing. Be mindful of overstating certainty and ensure that the level of probability matches the context of your statement. The phrase sees frequent use in news and media sources, with less common usage in more formal business and scientific contexts. The source examples provided offer clear guidance on appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is likely to

Changes the structure to use "is likely to" instead of "will likely", keeping the meaning of high probability.

probably will

Reorders the words to "probably will", maintaining the sense of probability but with a different emphasis.

it is probable that

Uses a more formal structure to express probability.

chances are

Uses an idiomatic expression to suggest something is likely to happen.

it's expected that

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than probability.

it is anticipated that

Similar to 'expected,' but often used in more formal or professional contexts.

one can anticipate

A formal and somewhat distanced way of indicating a likely future event.

in all probability

Uses a more emphatic expression of probability.

almost certainly will

Strengthens the likelihood to near certainty.

it's odds-on that

Employs a gambling metaphor to indicate very high probability.

FAQs

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

Use "will likely" to indicate a high probability of a future event. For example, "Given the current trends, the company "will likely" expand its operations next year".

What are some alternatives to using "will likely"?

You can use phrases like "is likely to", "probably will", or "chances are" depending on the specific context and level of formality.

Is "will likely" formal or informal?

"Will likely" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal writing. However, in very formal contexts, you might prefer "it is probable that" or "it is anticipated that".

Can I use "will likely" at the beginning of a sentence?

While grammatically correct, starting a sentence with "will likely" can sound awkward. It's generally better to place it within the sentence, such as "The team "will likely" announce its decision tomorrow".