adjective / noun
probable
PRAH-buh-buhl/ˈprɑːbəbl/
Expected to occur or succeed.
Dark clouds gather above the umbrella, making more rain probable.
Etymology
From testing came the idea of something provable and therefore credible. Probable came to describe what has more evidence for it than against it, without requiring certainty.
In context
all such expectations are only probable thus we have not to seek for a proof that they must be fulfilled but only for some reason in favor of the view that they are likely to be fulfilled
More examples
- A loose wire is the probable cause of the problem.
- A victory seems more probable after weeks of practice.
- Two of the probables withdraw before the final selection.
Forms
probable · more probable · most probable · probables
probably adverb — Used to say something is likely.
probability noun — The likelihood that something will happen.