How to Use not likely in a Sentence

not likely

idiom
Definition of not likelynext
  • The race is very close, and that’s not likely going to change.
    — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 3 Sep. 2024
  • And thanks to the climate crisis, in the long run, the deficit in flows is not likely to be reversed.
    — Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2023
  • But Trump and his supporters are not likely to treat this as a walk of shame.
    — Mary Angela Bock, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2023
  • But the three teams that followed did, and the trip overseas is not likely to derail this team.
    — Steve Silverman, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024
  • Again, not likely to happen: Our friends in the desert have the Oilers listed at +1400.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 June 2024
  • The de facto president of the Trump fan club is not likely to call Trump out on his lies.
    — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 31 May 2023
  • While victims are not likely to ever be made whole, there is a win here.
    — Michelle Singletary, Washington Post, 28 July 2023
  • Herbst said the inflow of U.S. weapons now is not likely to determine the outcome of the war.
    — Greg Myre, NPR, 24 Apr. 2024
  • An ideal market would, of course, have a ratio of one to one, but that’s not likely.
    — Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2023
  • But lying for votes, experts say, is not likely a crime on its own.
    — Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Smallmouths from that area are not likely to move down nor breed with my local bass.
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 11 Jan. 2024
  • But the heavy lifting is still more than a month away, with the issues that could lead to a strike not likely to be dealt with before June.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 29 Mar. 2024
  • But that's not likely to happen if your teen has never made a sandwich on their own.
    — Mia Taylor, Parents, 10 Sep. 2024
  • In that regard, there would be three possible, buy not likely, paths for the Heat to open a roster spot.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Also, four of the seven games were started by Rangers’ pitchers not likely to start in the playoffs.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 18 Sep. 2023
  • Either way, though, AI is not likely to fully invade, from Huang’s point of view.
    — Chloe Berger, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
  • The good news is that gas prices are not likely to spike to last year’s record-high levels, when a gallon of unleaded peaked at more than $6.
    — Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2023
  • Made with polyester, this bag is durable, water-resistant, and not likely to tear — a bag built to last from one tennis season to the next.
    — Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 16 June 2023
  • Over-the-counter medicines are not likely to help stress incontinence after prostate surgery.
    — Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 1 June 2023
  • Though the fox has been captured dining on litter in this photo, that’s not likely to be its full diet.
    — Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024
  • But there’s good news: Gas prices are not likely to spike to last year’s record-high levels, when a gallon of unleaded peaked at more than $6.
    — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2023
  • While widespread severe storms are not likely, a few storms could produce gusty winds and some hail, mainly south of DFW.
    — Kxas-Tv (nbc5), Dallas News, 9 Mar. 2023
  • But that kind of carryover success is not likely to repeat in 2024.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
  • The next wet system has slowed its approach into the region with rain not likely to start along the coast until late Thursday.
    — oregonlive, 2 Feb. 2023
  • Fed Chairman Jerome Powell also indicated that a rate cut was not likely for the rest of the year.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Crypto, 22 Mar. 2023
  • But the president of TARC's drivers union said that solution is not likely to work.
    — Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 16 Apr. 2024
  • And those who are ordered removed are not likely to be deported.
    — Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2023
  • Analysts agree that there is not likely to be the same degree of warning ahead of any future attack.
    — Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2024
  • Electric razors can get a very close shave but are not likely to get as close as a regular blade razor.
    — Steven Rowe, Verywell Health, 23 Feb. 2023
  • MacKinnon is at $12.6 million per year, so Rantanen’s not likely to get that much.
    — Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 1 June 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'not likely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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