likely
adjective
ˈlaɪkli 
ˈlaɪkli Help
more likely and most likely are the usual forms
1 probable or expectedthe most likely outcomelikely (to do something) Tickets are likely to be expensive.likely (that…) It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is worth.They might refuse to let us do it, but it's hardly likely.2 seeming suitable for a purposeSynonym
promisingShe seems the most likely candidate for the job.Idioms
a likely story
(informal, ironic) used to show that you do not believe what somebody has saidYou just found it lying in the street? A likely story!
Usage note: expectDiscussing predictionsThe number of people using mobile phones to purchase goods and services is expected/likely to more than double by the end of 2015.Experts have predicted/forecast that the number of people using their mobile phones to pay for goods and services should exceed 190 million in 2015.This figure is set to reach 200 million by 2016.By 2015, 800 million mobile phone users worldwide will be participating in social networks via their phone.Sales of mobile phones in 2009 were lower than expected.The company's announcement of 1.26 billion handsets sold for the year is in line with predictions. Language Banks at fall, illustrate, increase, proportion