maybe

- definition

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Thesaurus

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adverb

/ˈmeɪbi/

Maybe can be used in the following ways:

as a sentence adverb, making a comment on the whole sentence or clause: Maybe I’ll come too.

as an ordinary adverb (before a number): There were maybe 15 people there.

Get It Right!

1
used for showing that you are not sure whether something is true or whether something will happen
Maybe it will snow tonight and school will be cancelled.
Maybe Julie was right when she said I was jealous.
‘When can you give me an answer?’ ‘I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow.’
‘Do you think he really loves you?’ ‘Maybe. I’m not sure.’
maybe...maybe not:
Maybe things will improve, but then again, maybe not.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of maybe
1. a.
  used when you are guessing a number or amount
  The whole process takes maybe ten or fifteen minutes.
  Hundreds – maybe thousands – were killed.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of maybe
2
spoken used for making a suggestion when you are not sure what to do
Maybe we should call a doctor.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of maybe
3
spoken used for asking someone to do something, without saying directly that you want them to do it
Maybe you could do a little job for me?
Maybe someone could explain to me what’s going on around here?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of maybe
4
used for saying what sometimes happens
At weekends she would drive into Oxford, do the shopping, and maybe visit a few friends.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of maybe

Get It Right!: maybe

Don’t confuse the adverb maybe (one word), which means ‘perhaps’, with may be (two words), which means ‘could be’:

✗ In an earthquake your house maybe badly damaged.

✓ In an earthquake your house may be badly damaged.

✗ It maybe an unfulfilled dream.

✓ It may be an unfulfilled dream.

Maybe and perhaps have the same meaning, but maybe is used mainly in spoken English and informal writing. In more formal English, perhaps is far more common:

Now, maybe I haven’t explained myself very well.

There are, perhaps, three principles which must be followed.

This is the British English definition of maybe. View American English definition of maybe.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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