perhaps

[ per-haps ]

/ pərˈhæps /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR perhaps ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

maybe; possibly: Perhaps the package will arrive today.

Nearby words

Origin of perhaps

1520–30; earlier perhappes, perhapis by haps. See per, hap¹, -s¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perhaps

Citizens, perhaps, need to feel like they can communicate something to science.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps on his own nowadays, Epstein is trying his best to webmaster over a dozen URLs.
Sleazy Billionaire’s Double Life Featured Beach Parties With Stephen Hawking|M.L. Nestel|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Democrats would be mistaken to underestimate Mike Huckabee, perhaps the strongest Republican presidential contender.
Why This Liberal Hearts Huckabee|Sally Kohn|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps, as Dwight Garner wrote, Steinberg just needed an idea for a book.
Was ‘The Book of Mormon’ a Great American Novel?|Stefan Beck|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Perhaps it always seems that way at the time, but surely we face our fair share right now.
In 2015, Let’s Try for More Compassion|Gene Robinson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps I was wrong to lose my temper and threaten him, but I am half mad.
An American Suffragette|Isaac N. Stevens
And perhaps for her it wore the greater dignity from her vague idea of its internal workings.
Wheat and Huckleberries|Charlotte Marion (White) Vaile
It has no power, but perhaps you could tow it behind your launch.
Roy Blakeley|Percy Keese Fitzhugh
Perhaps he is stirred at the thought of fighting for "England, Home, and Beauty."
Kitchener's Mob|James Norman Hall
Henri had a thought, perhaps, of the rabbit's foot that Schneider carried.
Our Young Aeroplane Scouts in Germany|Horace Porter

British Dictionary definitions for perhaps

perhaps

/ (pəˈhæps, informal præps) /

adverb

possibly; maybe
(as sentence modifier)he'll arrive tomorrow, perhaps; perhaps you'll see him tomorrow

sentence substitute

it may happen, be so, etc; maybe

Word Origin for perhaps

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for perhaps

perhaps

adv.

1520s, formed from Middle English per, par "by, through" (see per-) + plural of hap "chance" (see happen), on model of peradventure, perchance, etc. which now have been superseded by this word. Perhappons "possibly, by chance" is recorded from late 15c.

perhaps

adverb

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Origin of perhaps

Examples from the Web for perhaps

perhaps

adverb

sentence substitute

Word Origin for perhaps

perhaps