probable
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.
Pronunciation edit
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/
Audio (US) (file) - Hyphenation: prob‧a‧ble
Adjective edit
probable (comparative more probable, superlative most probable)
- Likely or most likely to be true.
- It's probable that it will rain tomorrow.
- The probable source of the failure was the mass of feathers in the intake manifold.
- Likely to happen.
- With all the support we have, success is looking probable.
- Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.
- 1765–1769, William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England, (please specify |book=I to IV), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC:
- probable evidence
- 1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 8:
- From an examination of the Teutonic words for "temple" Grimm has made it probable that amongst the Germans the oldest sanctuaries were natural woods.
- (obsolete) Capable of being proved.
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
likely to be true
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likely to happen
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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See also edit
Noun edit
probable (plural probables)
- Something that is likely.
- 2013, Ikuhiko Hata, Yasuho Izawa, Christopher Shores, Japanese Naval Fighter Aces 1932-45, page 57:
- Four of the 32 251 Ku aircraft turned back, but the other 28 fought for 20 minutes against a reported 100 enemy aircraft, claiming 18 destroyed and five probables.
- A person who is likely to appear or do a certain thing.
Further reading edit
- “probable”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “probable”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Asturian edit
Etymology edit
From Latin probābilis.
Adjective edit
probable (epicene, plural probables)
Antonyms edit
Related terms edit
Catalan edit
Etymology edit
Borrowed from Latin probābilis.
Pronunciation edit
- IPA(key): (Central) [pɾuˈβab.blə]
- IPA(key): (Balearic) [pɾoˈbab.blə]
- IPA(key): (Valencian) [pɾoˈba.ble]
- Rhymes: -ablə, -able
Adjective edit
probable m or f (masculine and feminine plural probables)
- probable
- Antonym: improbable
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “probable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
French edit
Etymology edit
Learned borrowing from Latin probābilis.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
probable (plural probables)
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “probable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Galician edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
From Latin probābilis.
Adjective edit
probable m or f (plural probables)
- probable
- Antonyms: improbable, improbábel
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Ido edit
Adverb edit
probable
Spanish edit
Etymology edit
From Latin probābilis.
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
probable m or f (masculine and feminine plural probables)
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
Further reading edit
- “probable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014