Meaning of maybe in English

maybe

adverb

/ˈmeɪ.bi/ us

/ˈmeɪ.bi/

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used to show that something is possible or that something might be true:

Maybe they'll come tomorrow.

Maybe you were right after all.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

used to say you are not certain

maybe"Do you want to go to the show tonight?" "Maybe. Let's see how I feel after work."
perhapsPerhaps he'll decide to join us tonight.
possiblyThere are four, possibly five people who have been injured in the explosion.
potentiallyThese potentially unsafe chemicals are present in our groundwater.
conceivablyIt would be hard, but a burglar could conceivably shut down your electronic alarm system by hacking into it.
plausiblyShe argued, rather plausibly, that her neighbour was the one who took the tools from her allotment.

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informal

used to show that a number or amount is approximate:

There were 200, maybe 300, refugees on the boat.

used to politely suggest or ask for something:

Maybe Ted would like to go.

Maybe we should start again.

used to avoid giving a clear or certain answer to a question:

"Are you coming to Kelly's party?" "Maybe."

used to mean that something is a possible explanation for why something else happened:

"Why were you chosen for the team and not me?" "Maybe it's because I've been to more practices than you."

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"Is she old?" "Fairly old - late sixties maybe."
"Can we go to the park after school?" "Maybe - it depends whether I get all my work finished."
Maybe you'll get a letter from Daddy in the post today.
I think maybe I ought to go round there and apologize for what I said.
"Are you going out tonight?" "Maybe, maybe not - I haven't decided yet."

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Possible and probable

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Approximate

Suggestions & proposals

Uncertainty

Grammar

Maybe or may be?

We use maybe and may be to talk about possibility. They are often confused because we use them both when we think that something is possible but we are not certain. …

Maybe as an adverb

Maybe /ˈmeɪbi/ is an adverb and it means the same as perhaps. It is written as one word: …

May be

In the phrase may be /meɪ bi:/ may is a modal verb and be is a main or auxiliary verb. Here may and be are two separate words, whereas maybe is one word: …

Maybe or perhaps?

Maybe and perhaps are adverbs that mean the same thing. We use them when we think something is possible, but we are not certain. We use maybe mostly in front or end position whereas perhaps is used in front, mid and end position: …

(Definition of maybe from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

maybe | American Dictionary

maybe

adverb [ not gradable ]

/ˈmeɪ·bi/

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used to show that something is possible or that something might be true:

Maybe I can get the yard mowed before it rains.

There were maybe (= approximately) 50 people there when I left.

Maybe can also be used to avoid giving a clear or certain answer to a question:

"Are you still going to join me for dinner?" "Maybe."

Maybe can also be used to introduce a possible explanation:

I thought maybe my phone message had scared him off.

(Definition of maybe from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of maybe

maybe

Ifs and buts and maybes will not do.

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