Improbable Meaning
/ɪmˈpɹɑbəbl̩/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNot likely to be true.
adjNot likely to happen.
Sentence Examples
Your explanation won't wash; it's too improbable to be true.
The statement sounds improbable.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is highly ____ that the shy boy will win the singing competition because he never practices.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It seems highly ____ that it will rain today, given the clear blue sky and the bright sun.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin improbābilis. By surface analysis, im- + probable.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Improbabile, that cannot be prooued, improbable."
— 1598, John Florio, “Improbabile”, in A Worlde of Words, or Most Copious, and Exact Dictionarie in Italian and English, […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield for Edw[ard] Blount, →OCLC, page 171, column 1:
"Nay, if he be of a proud humour, […] he will not Bate an Ace of abſolute certainty, but however doubtful or improbable the thing is, coming f[r]om him it muſt go for an indiſputable truth."
— 1674, [Richard Allestree], “Of Positiveness”, in The Government of the Tongue. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: At the Theater, →OCLC, page 197:
"It is highly improbable that the drafter of the notice ever visualised the form that heavy vehicles of the future would take, but the comprehensive wording still covers modern types."
— 1955 December, “Notes and News: An Old Midland Railway Bridge Notice”, in Railway Magazine, page 877:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
It is highly ____ that the shy boy will win the singing competition because he never practices.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It seems highly ____ that it will rain today, given the clear blue sky and the bright sun.