probable

English

Etymology

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

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: prob‧a‧ble

Adjective

probable (comparative more probable, superlative most probable)

1. 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.

2. Likely to happen.

   With all the support we have, success is looking probable.

3. 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.

4. (obsolete) Capable of being proved.

Antonyms

• improbable

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• possible
• probeable

Noun

probable (plural probables)

1. 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.

2. A person who is likely to appear or do a certain thing.

Further reading

• “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

Etymology

From Latin probābilis.

Adjective

probable (epicene, plural probables)

1. probable

Antonyms

• improbable

Related terms

• probabilidá

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin probābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central)
• IPA^(key): (Balearic)
• IPA^(key): (Valencian)
• Rhymes: -ablə, -able

Adjective

probable m or f (masculine and feminine plural probables)

1. probable

   Antonym: improbable

Derived terms

• probablement

Related terms

• probabilitat

Further reading

• “probable” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin probābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pʁɔ.babl/

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

probable (plural probables)

1. likely, probable

Derived terms

• improbable
• probabilité
• probablement

Related terms

• prouver

Further reading

• “probable”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé , 2012.

Galician

Alternative forms

• probábel

Etymology

From Latin probābilis.

Adjective

probable m or f (plural probables)

1. probable

   Antonyms: improbable, improbábel

Derived terms

• probablemente

Related terms

• probabilidade

Ido

Adverb

probable

1. probably

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin probābilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɾoˈbable/
• Rhymes: -able
• Syllabification: pro‧ba‧ble

Adjective

probable m or f (masculine and feminine plural probables)

1. probable, likely
2. provable

Antonyms

• improbable

Derived terms

Related terms

Further reading

• “probable”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014