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Likely vs Luck - What's the difference?

likely | luck |

As nouns the difference between likely and luck

is that likely is something or somebody considered likely while luck is something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.

As an adjective likely

is probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.

As an adverb likely

is similarly.

As a verb luck is

to succeed by chance.

As a proper noun Luck is

{{surname|from=given names}.

likely

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
    • Rain is likely later this afternoon.
  • probable
    • They are likely to become angry with him.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., work=New York Times citation
    • , 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
    • Jones is a likely candidate for management.
  • plausible; Within the realm of credibility
    • not a very likely excuse.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 19 , author=Kerry Brown , title=Kim Jong-il obituary , work=The Guardian 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.}}
  • promising; Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome
    • a likely topic for investigation.
  • attractive; pleasant
    • found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
  • Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined.
    • He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=November 3 , author=Chris Bevan , title=Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham , work=BBC Sport 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.}}
  • (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
    • (Spenser)

    Synonyms

    * liable

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (obsolete) Similarly.
  • Probably.
  • *, chapter=1
    • , title= 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)
  • Something or somebody considered likely.

    • Statistics

    * English hedges English modal adverbs

    luck

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • Something that happens to someone by chance, a chance occurrence.
    • The raffle is just a matter of luck .
    Sometimes it takes a bit of luck to get success.
    I couldn't believe my luck when I found a fifty dollar bill on the street.
    Gilbert had some bad luck yesterday — he got pick-pocketed and lost fifty dollars.
  • A superstitious feeling that brings fortune or success.
    • He blew on the dice for luck .
    I wish you lots of luck for the exam tomorrow.
  • success
    • I tried for ages to find a pair of blue suede shoes, but didn't have any luck .
    He has a lot of luck with the ladies, perhaps it is because of his new motorbike.

    Synonyms

    * fortune (both senses)

    Derived terms

    * bad luck * down on one's luck * good luck * luckless * lucky * lucky break * luck out * luck of the draw * luck of the Irish * luck upon * push one's luck * ride one's luck * run of bad luck * sheer luck * streak of good luck

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To succeed by chance.
    • His plan lucked out.
  • To rely on luck.
    • No plan. We're just to going to have to luck through.
  • To carry out relying on luck.
    • Our plan is to luck it through.
    1000 English basic words