IELTS Vocabulary: Understanding and Using ‘Unlikely’
Learn the meaning, usage, and common mistakes associated with the word ‘unlikely’ in this IELTS vocabulary lesson. Discover its word type, synonyms, antonyms, and practice using it in sentences to improve your English skills for the IELTS exam.
Imagine you’re planning an outdoor picnic, and your friend asks if it will rain. You check the weather forecast, which shows clear skies, and say, It’s unlikely to rain today.
This word, unlikely, is our focus for today’s IELTS vocabulary lesson.
Word type: Unlikely is an adjective.
It can also function as an adverb when followed by to and a verb.
Meaning: Unlikely means not probable or not likely to happen.
It describes something that probably won’t occur or isn’t expected to happen.
Word history: The word unlikely comes from two parts: un, meaning not, and likely, which means probable.
It has been used in English since the 15th century.
Antonyms: The opposite of unlikely is likely. Other antonyms include probable and expected.
Synonyms: Some words with similar meanings to unlikely are improbable, doubtful, and implausible.
Examples use in sentences:
Here are three sentences using unlikely: It’s unlikely that I’ll finish this book by tomorrow. The team is unlikely to win the championship this year.
An unlikely friendship formed between the cat and the mouse. Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing unlikely with impossible.
Unlikely means something probably won’t happen, while impossible means it can’t happen at all. Another error is using unlikely as a noun.
Remember, it’s an adjective or adverb, not a noun. Now that we’ve explored the word unlikely, try using it in your own sentences.
Practice will help you use it confidently in your IELTS speaking and writing tasks. Remember, it’s unlikely you’ll master a new word immediately, but with regular use, you’ll improve quickly.
