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

QuantumScape is perhaps best known for its electric-vehicle batteries.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

“I have lived the life of man, I live now the life of woman, and one day perhaps I shall transcend both,” Morris wrote in “Conundrum,” a 1974 memoir.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

The billionaire wore Nikes instead of dress shoes, a sartorial nod perhaps to his bid to be the outsider-fighter.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Then there is the arbitration agreement — perhaps the most clarifying feature of the whole enterprise.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

Which wasn’t, perhaps, the only conclusion Mullineaux would’ve wanted the people to take from his talk.

From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone