maybe

American  

[mey-bee] / ˈmeɪ bi /

adverb

1. perhaps; possibly.

   Maybe I'll go too.

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noun

1. a possibility or uncertainty.

maybe British  

/ ˈmeɪˌbiː /

adverb

1. 1. perhaps

   2. ( as sentence modifier )

      maybe I'll come tomorrow

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1. possibly; neither yes nor no

Etymology

Origin of maybe

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English may be, short for it may be

Compare meaning

How does maybe compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• perhaps vs. maybe

Explanation

When you say maybe, you're not completely sure about your answer. If you say you'll maybe study at the library tonight, it is possible that you'll go there. Maybe is a shortened version of the Middle English phrase, "it may be." People use it when they're not sure about something — or they aren't ready to give their answer. Sometimes other things have to happen — or not happen — before you can be sure. For example, because it might rain tomorrow, you aren't sure there will be a baseball game. In the meantime, you answer, "Maybe," if someone asks if you are going to the game.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

maybe

But for liberals and conservatives alike, there were other aims, too, including a high school and maybe even college degree, and a stable job to follow it.

From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026

And I know they share that concern, but maybe it’s not the same degree of concern, because they don’t understand the illness and how severe it can become.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Horror fans and those who like to be in the know must see it, though if you’re a scaredy-cat, maybe watch this one during the day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

"We have to finish, we have to bring another couple of, maybe more, maybe not less, but a couple of players."

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

She untied the leash to give Wolf his freedom: maybe he could escape, even if she and Torak could not.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver