different between surely vs likely

English

Etymology

From Middle English surely; equivalent to sure +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????li/, /????li/
• (US) IPA^(key): /????li/, /????li/, /???li/
• Homophone: Shirley (in some dialects)
• Rhymes: -??(?)li, -??(?)li

Adverb

surely (comparative surelier or more surely, superlative sureliest or most surely)

1. Without fail.

2. Certainly, undoubtedly.
3. With confidence.

Quotations

• 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Luke 1:1

  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us […].

Synonyms

• certainly, wis (obsolete)

Translations

Anagrams

• Ruleys, Ruyles, Ulerys, Ulreys, syluer

Middle English

Alternative forms

• surly, suerly, surliche, surelich, seurly, suyrly, swrly, seurerly, seuirly, sureli, sewrly, sourely, sewerly, swerly, sewrlye, surelye

Etymology

From sure +? -ly.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?s?u?rli?/, /?siu?rli?/, /?su?rli?/

Adverb

surely (comparative surelier)

1. safely (with safety and security)
2. totally, bindingly, without doubt
3. For sure, with certainty.
4. truely, actually, really
5. totally, entirely, wholly
6. With conviction and belief; assuredly

Descendants

• English: surely
• Scots: shuirly

References

• “seurl?, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-04-21.

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?la?kli/

Etymology 1

From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ?el?cl?? (“likely”) and Old Norse líkligr (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *l?kal?kaz, equivalent to like +? -ly.

Adjective

likely (comparative likelier or more likely, superlative likeliest or most likely)

1. probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring

2. (as predicate, followed by to and infinitive) Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined, probable
3. appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential

4. plausible; within the realm of credibility
5. promising; apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome

6. attractive; pleasant

7. (obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, An Hymne in Honour of Beautie

     For love is a celestiall harmonie Of likely harts composed of starres concent

Derived terms

• likely lad

Synonyms

• (as predicate, followed by "to" and infinitive): liable

Translations

Noun

likely (plural likelies)

1. Something or somebody considered likely.

Etymology 2

From Middle English likely, likly, lykly, likliche, from Old English ?el?cl??e (“equally”) and Old Norse líkliga, glíkliga (“likely”), both from Proto-Germanic *l?kal?ka, equivalent to like +? -ly.

Adverb

likely (comparative more likely, superlative most likely) (US)

1. (obsolete) Similarly.
2. Probably.

Usage notes

• The adverb is more common in US English than in British English.
• As an adverb, likely is often preceded by a modifier such as most or quite.

Translations

Anagrams

• Ilkley, Killey