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# probably

«probably» in Mova's school dictionary: **very likely; almost certainly, but not 100% sure** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb

### meaning for a pupil

Probably means very likely; almost certainly, but not 100% sure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#m1)

### sense in the lessons

In maths and science, «probably» belongs with probability and chance: «likely», «unlikely», «certain», «impossible». In weather forecasts, «It will probably rain». In reasoning, probably means a good guess, not proof — check before saying it is true. Phrases: «most probably», «probably not».

### examples

- It will probably rain this afternoon. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x1)
- She is probably at home. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x2)
- You probably know the answer already. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x3)
- We will probably win. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x4)
- It's probably a squirrel in the garden. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x5)
- He probably forgot his lunch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x6)
- Probably not — the shop closes at five. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x7)
- The dog has probably eaten my sock. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/#x8)

### note

Spelled «probably», not «probly». Noun: «probability»; adjective: «probable». «Probably» is stronger than «maybe» or «perhaps» and weaker than «certainly».

### In the corpora

- [The future of AI is probably neither all wonderful nor all terrible; it depends on the choices people make.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/24-future-hopes/12/)
- [Parasaurolophus had a long hollow crest that probably worked like a trumpet, making deep honking sounds.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/267-horns-frills-plates-and-clubs/13/)
- [Raptors held their big curved toe claw off the ground while walking and probably used it to pin down prey, like hawks today.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/268-raptors-the-real-velociraptor/7/)
- [He wears a long dressing-gown, carries a flat candlestick, and «had probably been on his way to bed».](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/37-willows-ch4-part1-mr-badger/13/)
- [Twinkling eyes mean fun and mischief, so she is probably hiding a present.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/18-inference-reading-between-the-lines/8/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «probably» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/probably/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.