Cool MateA chance maybe vs Likelihood
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
A chance maybe
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Likelihood
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Likelihood
| A chance maybe | Likelihood | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ə tʃɑːns ˈmeɪbi//🇺🇸 //ə tʃæns ˈmeɪbi// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪklihʊd/"]/ |
| Meaning | An opportunity that might happen. | The chance that something will happen. |
| Example | There’s a chance maybe we’ll get to see the concert after all. | There is very little likelihood of that happening. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | take a chance maybe, give it a chance maybe, there is a chance maybe | every, greater, increased, decrease, diminish, lessen, grow, diminish, likelihood for, likelihood of, in all likelihood |
| Antonyms | - | unlikelihood, improbability |
| Common mistakes | Misuse it when trying to express certainty., Omitting a comma in written form., Confusing with 'a chances' - 'chance' is singular. | Confusing 'likelihood' with 'likely'., Using 'likelihood' as a countable noun instead of uncountable., Mixing up the preposition, saying 'likelihood for' instead of 'likelihood of'. |
| Usage notes | Use when suggesting a possibility, but not guaranteed. Casual, often used in conversation or informal writing. | Use 'likelihood' in discussions of probability. It's neutral, suitable for academic and everyday contexts, but avoid it in very casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: A chance maybe vs Likelihood
What's the difference between A chance maybe and Likelihood?
A chance maybe: An opportunity that might happen. Likelihood: The chance that something will happen.
Which is more common: A chance maybe and Likelihood?
Likelihood is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
A chance maybe: There’s a chance maybe we’ll get to see the concert after all. Likelihood: There is very little likelihood of that happening.
Can I use A chance maybe and Likelihood interchangeably?
Not always. A chance maybe and Likelihood are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.