How do you pronounce probable?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/.

Where does probable come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

probable

/ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English

Syllables: prob-a-ble
IPA: /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Likely or most likely to be true.

adj

Likely to happen.

adj

Supporting, or giving ground for, belief, but not demonstrating.

adj

Capable of being proved.

Obsolete

noun

Something that is likely.

noun

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

Example Sentences

"It's probable that it will rain tomorrow."
"The probable source of the failure was the mass of feathers in the intake manifold."
"A major accident and embezzlement of its funds seem to have been the only disasters it escaped; and as to the latter, the most probable reason is that it never had any quantity of funds worth embezzling."
"With all the support we have, success is looking probable."
"probable evidence"
"From an examination of the Teutonic words for "temple" Grimm has made it probable that amongst the Germans the oldest sanctuaries were natural woods."

Etymology

From Middle English probable, from Old French probable, from Latin probābilis (“that may be proved, credible”), from probāre (“to test, examine”); see probe, probity, prove. Compare recent doublet provable.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰuH-, probable, probābilis

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈpɹɑbəbl̩/
British English: /ˈpɹɒbəbl̩/

Usage

Obsolete

Inflected Forms

more probable (comparative) most probable (superlative) probables (plural)

Derived Forms

equiprobable nonprobable probabilify probabilistics probability probableness probably unprobable

Phrases

probable cause probable error

Frequently Paired Words

possible probeable

Antonyms

improbable

Rhymes With