unlikely
adjective uk/ʌnˈlaɪ.kli/ us/ʌnˈlaɪ.kli/
(NOT PROBABLE)
B1 不大可能发生的
not probable or likely to happen
[ + (that) ] It's pretty unlikely (that) they'll turn up now - it's nearly ten o'clock. 他们现在不大可能来了——都快10点了。
- More examples
- The lack of evidence means that the case is unlikely to go to court.
- The government is unlikely to agree to the rebels' demands for independence.
- Such unpopular legislation is unlikely to be introduced before the next election.
- Let's face it, our team is most unlikely to win.
- This film is unlikely to attract large audiences unless it is given a big push in the media.
(NOT EXPECTED)
[ only before noun ]非心目中的，非想象的
not the same as you would usually expect
He's an unlikely-looking doctor (= he is not what I expect a doctor to look like). 他看上去不太像个医生。
(PROBABLY NOT TRUE)
C2 [ only before noun ]难以相信的，不能信服的
probably not true
When I asked what he was doing there, he came up with some unlikely explanation. 当我问他在那里做什么的时候，他的解释令人难以信服。