Reliable vs Likely - What's the difference?
reliable | likely |
Suitable]] or fit to be [[rely on, relied on; worthy of dependence or reliance; trustworthy
(signal processing, of a communication protocol) Such that either a sent packet will reach its destination, even if it requires retransmission, or the sender will be told that it didn't
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.
As adjectives the difference between reliable and likely
is that reliable is suitable]] or fit to be [[rely on|relied on; worthy of dependence or reliance; trustworthy while likely is probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.As nouns the difference between reliable and likely
is that reliable is something or someone or dependable while likely is something or somebody considered likely.As an adverb likely is
(obsolete) similarly.reliable
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles. -- .
- The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object. -- .
- According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more reliable , being peopled in those agitated times by unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking Tories, and very knavish Whigs. --.
Synonyms
* secure * dependableAntonyms
* unreliableDerived terms
* reliableness * reliably * semireliableSee also
* (Reliability)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.”}}