perhaps; possibly
Origin of maybe
Middle English (for it may be)
adverb
Maybe is defined as possibly or perhaps.
An example of maybe used as an adverb is stating what someone might do; "She will maybe go to the pool tomorrow."
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2018 by LoveToKnow Corp
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"maybe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe>.
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maybe. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe
maybe
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"maybe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe>.
APA Style
maybe. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe
maybe
adverb
Used to indicate uncertainty or possibility: We should maybe take a different route. Maybe it won't rain.
noun
Informal- An uncertainty: There are so many maybes involved in playing the stock market.
- An uncertain reply: It's better to receive a fast and honest no than a drawn-out maybe.
THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Cite this page
MLA Style
"maybe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe>.
APA Style
maybe. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe
Adverb
(not comparable)
- Modifies a verb, indicating a lack of certainty.
- (as a pro-sentence) perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement)
Usage notes
- Do not confuse maybe with may be: "Maybe that's true", but "That may be true"
Adjective
(comparative more maybe, superlative most maybe)
Noun
(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.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"maybe." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 21 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe>.
APA Style
maybe. (n.d.). Retrieved January 21st, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Maybe
Sentence Examples
- Maybe he should see a doctor.
- Maybe he thought she would change her mind, but it wasn't going to happen.
- But maybe as a civilization, we have to talk out loud to figure out where we stand, to make progress.
- Maybe they knew what kind of bait to throw out.
- Maybe something was wrong all along.
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