maybe

Meaning

Adv

1. Perhaps, possibly.
2. Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
3. Certainly.

Adj

Possible; uncertain.

Noun

1. (informal) Something that is possibly true.
2. (informal) An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.
3. (informal) A future event that may or may not happen.

Synonyms

perhaps

possibly

perchance

mayhap

probably

peradventure

could be

might

if

likely

haply

hopefully

or

possible

by some chance

almost

by chance

all of a sudden

ablins

can be

suddenly

nearly

possibility

presumably

probable

reckon

seemingly

sometimes

sort of

surely

think

🤔

unlikely

used to

and then

I guess

I think

like as not

not necessarily

it’s possible

hope to

praps

wish to

ablings

mayhappen

about

aiblins

although

anyhow

apparently

approximately

at a pinch

by any chance

conceivably

contingent

contingently

either

even

guess

have to

imagine

in any case

it seems

may

more or less

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmeɪbi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English:

In summary

From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be. Compare mayhap.

Sentences

Maybe it was because they moved around so much .

Maybe the alchemist has never been in love , the boy thought .

Maybe the church , with the sycamore growing from within , had been haunted .