Likely vs Fit - What's the difference?
likely | fit | Synonyms |
probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
probable
*{{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., work=New York Times
, passage=People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?}}
appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential
plausible; Within the realm of credibility
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=December 19
, author=Kerry Brown
, title=Kim Jong-il obituary
, work=The Guardian
promising; Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome
attractive; pleasant
Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined.
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=November 3
, author=Chris Bevan
, title=Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham
, work=BBC Sport
(obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
(obsolete) Similarly.
Probably.
*, chapter=1
, title= Something or somebody considered likely.
Suitable, proper.
* Bible, Job xxxiv. 18
* {{quote-book, year=2005, by=
, passage=The rest we'll leave to be examined later, if we think fit ;}}
Adapted to a purpose or environment.
* Shakespeare
In good shape; physically well.
(British, slang) Good looking, fanciable, attractive, beautiful.
Prepared; ready.
* Fairfax
To be suitable for.
* 1918 , Richard Dennis Teall Hollister, Speech-making , publ. George Wahr,
To conform to in size and shape.
To be of the right size and shape, as of clothing.
To make conform in size and shape.
# To tailor; to change to the appropriate size.
To be in agreement with.
To adjust.
To attach, especially when requiring exact positioning or sizing.
* {{quote-news
, year=2012
, date=May 13
, author=Andrew Benson
, title=Williams's Pastor Maldonado takes landmark Spanish Grand Prix win
, work=BBC Sport
To equip or supply.
To make ready.
(archaic) To be seemly.
To be proper or becoming.
* Alexander Pope
To be in harmony.
The degree to which something fits.
Conformity of elements one to another.
The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.
(advertising) how well a particular commercial execution captures the character or values of a brand.
(statistics) goodness of fit.
(archaic) A section of a poem or ballad.
* 1771 , (1791), vol 2:
* Spenser
A seizure or convulsion.
(medicine) A sudden and vigorous appearance of a symptom over a short period of time.
A sudden outburst of emotion.
A sudden burst (of an activity).
*
(medicine) To suffer a fit.
Likely is a synonym of fit.
As an adjective likely
is probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.As an adverb likely
is (obsolete) similarly.As a noun likely
is something or somebody considered likely.As an abbreviation fit is
(travel industry|aviation) fully inclusive tour.likely
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- Rain is likely later this afternoon.
- They are likely to become angry with him.
citation
- Jones is a likely candidate for management.
- not a very likely excuse.
citation, page= , passage=The DPRK propagated an extraordinary tale of his birth occurring on Mount Baekdu, one of Korea's most revered sites, being accompanied by shooting stars in the sky. It is more likely that he was born in a small village in the USSR, while his father was serving as a Soviet-backed general during the second world war.}}
- a likely topic for investigation.
- found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
- He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
citation, page= , passage=In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages -with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.}}
- (Spenser)
Synonyms
* liableAdverb
(en adverb)Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”}}
Usage notes
* As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as (most) or (quite). * Some usage guides consider adverbial likely'' - instead of ''probably - to be poor style and an artificial, sometimes pretentious way to imply a sense of erudition. One can also opt for the somewhat rarer adverbial form likelily.Noun
(likelies)fit
English
Etymology 1
Possibly from the (etyl) .Adjective
(fitter)- You have nothing to say about it. I'll do exactly as I see fit .
- Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked?
- survival of the fittest
- That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in.
- You don't have to be a good climber for Kilimanjaro, but you do have to be fit .
- I think the girl working in the office is fit .
- So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel.
Derived terms
* fighting fit * fit as a fiddle * fitly * fitness * fittie * unfitEtymology 2
From the adjective .Verb
- It fits the purpose.
pg. 81:
- The speaker should be certain that his subject fits the occasion.
- The small shirt doesn't fit me, so I'll buy the medium size.
- If I lose a few kilos, the gorgeous wedding dress might fit me.
- I wanted to borrow my little sister's jeans, but they didn't fit .
- I want to fit the drapes to the windows.
- I had a suit fitted by the tailor.
- These definitions fit most of the usage.
- The regression program fit a line to the data.
citation, page= , passage=Williams had a problem fitting his left rear tyre and that left Alonso only 3.1secs adrift when he rejoined from his final stop three laps later.}}
- The chandler will fit us with provisions for a month.
- I'm fitting the ship for a summer sail home.
- Nor fits it to prolong the feast.
- The paint, the fabrics, the rugs all fit .
Derived terms
* fit like a glove * fit up * misfitNoun
(en noun)- This shirt is a bad fit .
- Since he put on weight, his jeans have been a tight fit .
- It's hard to get a good fit using second-hand parts.
- The Wonder Bread advertising research results showed the “White Picket Fence” commercial had strong fit ratings.
Usage notes
Usually used in the singular preceded by an indefinite article and an adjective.References
* (advertising) The Advertising Research Handbook Charles E. Young, Ideas in Flight, Seattle, WA, April 2005Etymology 3
, or, from the sense of fitted to length.Noun
(en noun)- Dr. Percy has written a long ballad in many fits .
- to play some pleasant fit
References
* Oxford English Dictionary: fit, fyte n. 1Etymology 4
.Noun
(en noun)- My grandfather died after having a fit .
- He had a laughing fit which lasted more than ten minutes.
- She had a fit and had thrown all of his clothes out of the window.
- He threw a fit when his car broke down.
