Word of the Day: Probably
The word “probably” is a very common adverb that is used when there is a good chance something will happen. Notice that “probably” is usually placed close to the verb that it modifies.
- I’m probably going to go shopping today.
- It will probably rain this afternoon.
- You probably want some help with this difficult assignment.
- The kids will probably want to go to the park later.
Use “probably” and “not” when you predict something is not likely to happen:
- It’s probably not going to rain today.
- They probably won’t be here until later.
- He probably won’t get the job he interviewed for.
- She’s upset about something. This is probably not a good time to talk to her. Wait until later.
You can also use “probably” for things that may or may not have happened in the past.
- Dave isn’t here yet. He probably got stuck in traffic.
- Nadine looks unhappy. She probably failed her test.
- Our teacher’s hair is all wet. He probably came to school without an umbrella today.
- Isabel was late to class. She probably slept through her alarm.
Notice that probably is often a one-word answer to a question or a statement:
- A: Do you think the test will be hard?
- B: Probably.
- A: This car repair is going to be expensive.
- B: Probably.
- A: They’ve been going out for over four years. Will they ever get married?
- B: Yeah, probably.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with P page to see the list of all words starting with letter P. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
