perhaps

American  

[per-haps] / pərˈhæps /

adverb

1. maybe; possibly.

   Perhaps the package will arrive today.

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perhaps British  

/ pəˈhæps, præps /

adverb

1. 1. possibly; maybe

   2. ( as sentence modifier )

      he'll arrive tomorrow, perhaps

      perhaps you'll see him tomorrow

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

Etymology

Origin of perhaps

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

Compare meaning

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

• perhaps vs. maybe

Explanation

Perhaps means about the same thing as maybe: things that perhaps could happen might happen, or they might not. When someone asks if you want to do something and you say "Perhaps" — you haven't committed. It's another way of saying "I don't know" or "It's possible. Who knows?" People use perhaps when talking about things they aren't sure about, or things they don't want to answer in a decisive way. When a friend says, "Perhaps we'll go to that movie," don't count on it. He's keeping his options open.

Example Sentences

And perhaps if childcare weren’t considered the exclusive province of mothers, it might not be.

From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026

The situation sounds unusual, so you should follow up with the SSA and request a detailed explanation — or perhaps even a correction if an error was made.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 24, 2026

Tuchel entered the job with a pre-existing idea of his system, perhaps created as a solution to wider football trends, and then sought the best English players to fit its roles.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Denton’s appointment was perhaps the most salient detail in Nike’s announcement on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Jun. 24, 2026

I had hoped we’d be able to spend time at the creek during the Christmas holidays, perhaps with Grandpa Dodzi again.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo