improbable

/ɪmˈprɒbəbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈprɑːbəbl/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)im-ˈprä-bə-bəl -ˈpräb-bəl/ (ame, mw)

improbable — adjective

  • improbablepositive
  • more improbablecomparative
  • most improbablesuperlative

1. describing something that has only a small chance of happening, being real, or b

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describing something that has only a small chance of happening, being real, or being true, so most people would not expect it.

例句

It is improbable that Lisa will finish the marathon in under three hours.

it is improbable that + clause

Karim told the police an improbable story about losing his keys in a river.

improbable + noun (story / tale / excuse)

同義詞
  • unlikely

    more common in everyday speech; 'improbable' is slightly more formal

  • doubtful

    focuses on uncertainty about truth; 'improbable' focuses on low likelihood

  • implausible

    stresses that something is hard to believe, not just unlikely to happen

反義詞
  • likely

    everyday opposite — having a good chance of happening

  • probable

    direct formal opposite

文法句型

it is improbable that + clause

improbable + noun

用法筆記

Often used with 'highly', 'very', or 'quite' to strengthen the meaning. Stronger than 'unlikely' and slightly more formal; weaker and more neutral than 'impossible'.

常見錯誤

❌It is improbable to rain tomorrow.
✅It is improbable that it will rain tomorrow.
💡'improbable' usually takes a that-clause, not a to-infinitive.