Probability: English Vocabulary List

unavoidable or very likely to happen

"It is certain to rain."

"I am certain that we locked the front door before we left for our vacation last week."

having a low chance of happening or being true

"It is unlikely to rain."

"It is unlikely to snow in April because the weather is already getting warm and sunny."

easily anticipated or expected to happen based on past experiences or knowledge

"The ending is predictable."

"The predictable plot of the movie made it boring and the audience could guess the ending after only twenty minutes."

improbable or unlikely to happen or be the case

"It is doubtful."

"It is doubtful that he will show up because he has never been reliable in the past."

not definitively known or decided

"The future is uncertain."

"The future is uncertain so we should save money now in case things get worse."

expected or certain to happen

"It is sure to win."

"I am sure that we took the correct exit because I recognized the gas station on the corner."

difficult to be believed

"The news is unbelievable."

"The magician's trick was so unbelievable that the audience sat in stunned silence for several seconds before applauding loudly."