would most likely have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would most likely have" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is often used to express a hypothetical situation or outcome in the past, based on what is known or expected. Example: "If he had studied harder, he would most likely have passed the exam." (expressing a possible past outcome based on the person's actions) Another example: "The team would most likely have won the game if their star player hadn't been injured." (expressing a possible past outcome based on a circumstance outside of the team's control).

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Without a lawyer, she would most likely have been deported, like so many others.

The New York Times

"If I had an image like that, it would most likely have been a stillborn baby".

The New York Times - Health

As the literature has shown, ancient cultures would most likely have used less-fermented, Lavado-like cocoa beans.

Heritage Science

But his words would most likely have been ignored.

The New York Times

His return would most likely have provoked a confrontation.

The New York Times

An honest economic forecast would most likely have sunk Medicare.

The New York Times

Mr. Gore would most likely have won an unhampered vote.

The New York Times

He would most likely have been on the side of the rioters in London in 2011.

Independent

But South would most likely have advanced with two spades, which might have ended the auction.

The New York Times

In such a event, MF Global's holdings would most likely have paid off.

The New York Times

Once upon a time such people would most likely have operated in relative anonymity.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would most likely have" to express hypothetical past outcomes, ensuring the context clearly indicates a condition that was not met. For instance, "If the weather had been better, they "would most likely have" won the game".

Common error

Avoid using "would most likely have" when a simple past tense would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound speculative when you intend to convey a factual statement. Instead of saying "He "would most likely have" arrived yesterday", use "He arrived yesterday" if you have evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would most likely have" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a hypothetical or conditional outcome in the past. It indicates a high probability of something occurring, contingent on a condition that may or may not have been met. Ludwig confirms this interpretation with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

19%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would most likely have" is a versatile modal verb construction used to express a strong probability regarding a past hypothetical scenario. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it’s grammatically correct and commonly found in various written sources, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives like "would probably have" exist, "would most likely have" offers a balanced expression of likelihood without implying absolute certainty. When using it, ensure a clear hypothetical context to avoid speculative or factually incorrect statements. Its prevalence across authoritative sources underscores its reliability and appropriateness in formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would probably have

Replaces "most likely" with "probably", indicating a slightly weaker degree of certainty.

would have likely

Inverts the position of "likely", maintaining a similar meaning but with a slightly different emphasis.

would almost certainly have

Substitutes "most likely" with "almost certainly", suggesting a higher degree of confidence.

would very likely have

Emphasizes the likelihood with "very likely", increasing the degree of probability.

would reasonably have

Indicates a logical expectation based on the circumstances.

would predictably have

Suggests that the outcome was expected or foreseeable.

might well have

Uses "might well" to indicate a possibility, though slightly less strong than "most likely".

could easily have

Implies that the outcome could have happened without much difficulty.

it is plausible that it would have

Expresses the idea of something being believable or credible in the past.

it is conceivable that it would have

Emphasizes the possibility of something happening, suggesting it is within the realm of possibility.

FAQs

How can I use "would most likely have" in a sentence?

Use "would most likely have" to describe a past event that probably would have occurred under different circumstances. For example, "If I had studied, I "would most likely have" passed the test."

What's a good alternative to "would most likely have"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "would probably have", "would very likely have", or "might well have" to convey similar meanings.

Is "would of" ever correct instead of "would have"?

No, "would of" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is always "would have", which is sometimes contracted to "would've". Using "would of" is a common error to avoid.

What is the difference between "would most likely have" and "would definitely have"?

"Would most likely have" indicates a high probability but not a certainty, while "would definitely have" implies certainty. For example, "He "would most likely have" succeeded" suggests a strong chance, whereas "He "would definitely have" succeeded" suggests no doubt about the outcome.