Pronunciation Adverb
maybe (not comparable)
- Modifies a verb, indicating a lack of certainty: it may be that...
- (as a pro-sentence) Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
- 2016, [https://web.archive.org/web/20171030003034/https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-8-are-you-busy/3253185.html VOA Learning English] (public domain)
- Okay. See you later, maybe. — Maybe I’ll see you later.
- Okay. See you later, maybe. — Maybe I’ll see you later.
- 2016, [https://web.archive.org/web/20171030003034/https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/lets-learn-english-lesson-8-are-you-busy/3253185.html VOA Learning English] (public domain)
- (perhaps) mayhaps, peradventure, perhaps, possibly
- (as a pro-sentence) could be, mayhaps, might be, perhaps, possibly, that’s possible
- French: peut-être, peut-être que (+ indicative), il se peut (+ subjunctive)
- German: vielleicht
- Italian: forse, magari, chissà
- Portuguese: talvez
- Russian: мо́жет быть
- Spanish: quizá, quizás, tal vez, acaso, (Argentina) capaz, (Colombia) de pronto
- French: peut-être, c'est possible#French|possible
- German: vielleicht, mag sein
- Italian: forse, può essere
- Portuguese: é possível, pode ser, talvez
- Russian: мо́жет быть
maybe
- Possible; uncertain.
- 1687, John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther, part III line 294
- Then add those may-be years thou hast to live
- 1687, John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther, part III line 294
maybe (plural maybes)
- (informal) Something that is possibly true.
- (informal) An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.
- The results of the poll were inconclusive. We got two yeses, three nos, and four maybes.
- (informal) A future event that may or may not happen.
- About your raise: it's a big maybe.
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