improbable
UK/im'prɒbәbl/US
TOEFLB2
Definitions
adj.
Not likely to be true or to happen
不大可能的
adj.
So unlikely as to seem hard to believe
难以置信的；离奇的
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedim- (not) + probable (likely) = not likely. Here im- is genuinely the negative prefix (not the 'into' im-): something improbable cannot easily be proved, so it is unlikely — and at the extreme, hard to believe (an improbable coincidence).
Root prob still carries 14 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.seem improbable似乎不太可能
- 2.highly improbable极不可能
- 3.an improbable story离奇的故事
- 4.improbable coincidence难以置信的巧合
Example Sentences
- 1.
It seems improbable that they'll finish on time.
- 2.
The film tells the improbable story of a cat who saves a town.