- [uncountable, countable]
how likely something is to happen 可能性；或然性 The probability is that prices will rise rapidly. 物价有可能会迅速上升。 There seemed to be a high probability of success. 成功的几率似乎很高。
Extra ExamplesTopics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2We can say with a high degree of probability that the poem was written by Shakespeare. 我们认为这首诗很有可能是莎士比亚写的。 genetic factors that influence the probability of becoming sick 影响患病概率的遗传因素 measures to increase the probability for a sustained recovery 提高持续康复概率的措施
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- real
- strong
- …
- degree
- have
- increase
- decrease
- …
- probability for
- probability of
- in all probability
- on a/the balance of probabilities
- [countable]
a thing that is likely to happen 很可能发生的事 A fall in interest rates is a strong probability in the present economic climate. 在目前的经济形势下，降低利率大有可能。 It now seems a probability rather than just a possibility. 这件事似乎十拿九稳，而不是仅有可能。
- [countable, uncountable] (
mathematics 数学 a ratio showing the chances that a particular thing will happen 概率；几率；或然率 There is a 60 per cent probability that the population will be infected with the disease. 人口感染这种疾病的可能性为60%。
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin probabilitas, from probabilis ‘provable, credible’, from probare ‘to test, demonstrate’.
Idioms
(on) the balance of evidence/probability
- (formal)
(considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of something （从）总的来说；（考虑）正反两方面；权衡双方证据 The balance of evidence suggests the Liberal party's decline began before the First World War. 证据的平衡表明，自由党的衰落始于第一次世界大战之前。 The coroner thought that on the balance of probabilities, the pilot had suffered a stroke just before the crash. 验尸官在分析各种可能性后认为，飞行员很有可能在空难发生之前突然中风。
(on) the balance of probability/evidence
- (formal)
(considering) the evidence on both sides of an argument, to find the most likely reason for or result of something （从）总的来说；（考虑）正反两方面；权衡双方证据 The coroner thought that on the balance of probabilities, the pilot had suffered a stroke just before the crash. 验尸官在分析各种可能性后认为，飞行员很有可能在空难发生之前突然中风。
in all probability…