- [uncountable, countable] how likely something is to happen synonym likelihood
- The probability is that prices will rise rapidly.
- There seemed to be a high probability of success.
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2- We can say with a high degree of probability that the poem was written by Shakespeare.
- genetic factors that influence the probability of developing cancer
- measures to increase the probability for a sustained recovery
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- real
- strong
- …
- degree
- have
- increase
- decrease
- …
- probability for
- probability of
- in all probability
- on a/the balance of probabilities
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- [countable] a thing that is likely to happen
- A fall in interest rates is a strong probability in the present economic climate.
- It now seems a probability rather than just a possibility.
- [countable, uncountable] (mathematics) a ratio showing the chances that a particular thing will happen
- There is a 60 per cent probability that the population will be infected with the disease.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin probabilitas, from probabilis ‘provable, credible’, from probare ‘to test, demonstrate’.
Idioms
See probability in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee probability in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English(on) the balance of evidence/probability
- (formal) (considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of something
- The balance of evidence suggests the Liberal party's decline began before the First World War.
- The coroner thought that on the balance of probabilities, the pilot had suffered a stroke just before the crash.
(on) the balance of probability/evidence
- (formal) (considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of something
- The coroner thought that on the balance of probabilities, the pilot had suffered a stroke just before the crash.
in all probability…
- it is very likely that
- In all probability he failed to understand the consequences of his actions.
- In all probability she wouldn't come even if we invited her.
Check pronunciation:
probability