perhaps

[per-haps]

adverb

1. maybe; possibly.

   Perhaps the package will arrive today.

perhaps

/ pəˈhæps, præps /

adverb

1. 1. possibly; maybe

   2. ( as sentence modifier )

      he'll arrive tomorrow, perhaps

      perhaps you'll see him tomorrow

1. it may happen, be so, etc; maybe

Word History and Origins

Origin of perhaps¹

First recorded in 1520–30; earlier perhappes, perhapis “by haps”; equivalent to per + hap ¹ + -s ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perhaps¹

C16 perhappes, from per by + happes chance, _hap ¹

Example Sentences

But looking at the way the goals have come about perhaps gives some insight into why they're happening.

From BBC

An area of low pressure is, perhaps unsurprisingly, going to be responsible for the heavy rain.

From BBC

At this particular moment, there’s only the sound of our breaths, our thoughts and perhaps some new guests.

From Los Angeles Times

So perhaps like many stories about the royals, it feels new and old at the same time.

From BBC

It will turn colder here, perhaps even cold enough for some wintriness over the very tops of the Scottish mountains by the weekend.

From BBC