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Glite Dictionary
🤔 Possibly ❓ An uncertain reply
maybe

maybe

∞ 1.0
It might happen or be true
  • adverb
  • /ˈmeɪbi/
: quizás
  • So the hypothesis was that maybe they improve diversity.
  • just maybe
  • maybe even
  • maybe too

I just want him to stop and maybe he'll just stop.

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Examples

  • But you know, maybe, maybe I'll change my mind.

  • And maybe one day, yeah, maybe start the report again.

  • So kind of like just maybe pass this around.

  • But these are now maybe the third most rare.

  • And then by the way, maybe today, just get quiet.

  • You know, the youth, but maybe not for long.

  • You know, then maybe it starts to change.

    Dr. Phil

  • I don't know, I think maybe it's worth a try.

  • People aren't quite as heated as they were maybe two or three years ago.

  • I don't know, I think maybe it's worth a try.

Synonyms

perhaps
vsmaybe
∞ 1.0

To say something might be true

is the informal alternative used the same way
possibly
vsmaybe
∞ 1.0

May happen or be true and sometimes makes a request more polite

is the simple uncertain expression without that extra emphasis
likely
vsmaybe
786 1.0

There is a good chance it will happen

gives lower certainty, signaling mere possibility rather than probability
percase
vsmaybe
  • Archaic
9.9

To show that something might happen

is the everyday neutral form rather than archaic wording
mayhap
vsmaybe
  • Archaic
9.9

People use it to say maybe in old or poetic language

is the normal modern alternative without archaic tone
mayhaps
vsmaybe
  • Archaic
9.9

Said when you are not sure about something, often in old-fashioned language

is the standard neutral option without the old fashioned feel
perchance
vsmaybe
  • Archaic
9.9

Maybe in older or more formal writing

is the plain everyday word used without poetic tone
peradventure
vsmaybe
  • Archaic
9.9

Says that something might happen by chance

is the common conversational form rather than rare literary use

Antonyms

certainly
∞ 1.0

Showing that something is true or will happen without any doubt

definitely
∞ 1.0

To say that something is true without any doubt

How Certain

definitely
∞ 1.0
probably
∞ 1.0
maybe
∞ 1.0
possibly
∞ 1.0
conceivably
41 5.3

Surface Forms

maybe positive

Morphology

maybe = may + be (transparent) = may + be

The adverb is a grammaticalized sequence 'may be' whose meaning 'possibly' is directly predictable from the components for learners.

Etymology

Maybe comes from the simple words may + be, literally 'it may be so'. So maybe is a short way to say 'possibly' or 'perhaps', and we use it when we are not sure.