as likely as not

adverb

As has even chances of being true or happening; as has a fifty-fifty likelihood; (often loosely) probably.

“Near-synonyms: (broadly synonymous) more than likely, in all likelihood, in all probability”

Similar
as like as notmore than likelyin all likelihoodin all probability
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Meanings

adverbas likely as not (not comparable)
  1. not comparableAs has even chances of being true or happening; as has a fifty-fifty likelihood; (often loosely) probably.

    Near-synonyms: (broadly synonymous) more than likely, in all likelihood, in all probability

    1 more example

    "You're tying my hands," complained Tommy. "It's a very delicate affair, and the other fellow will muff it up as likely as not, and then where shall I be? I don't believe one of you has got an ounce of tact."

    1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 16”, in The Secret Adversary

    Synonyms: as like as not, more than likely, in all likelihood, in all probability

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbAs has even chances of being true or happening; as has a fifty-fifty likelihood; (often loosely) probably.

Similar
as like as notmore than likelyin all likelihoodin all probability
Also see
as like as notmore than likely
Cite this entry
APA

as likely as not. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20likely%20as%20not

MLA

“as likely as not.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20likely%20as%20not. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “as likely as not,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20likely%20as%20not.

Source: as likely as not on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.