perhaps

American  

[per-haps] / pərˈhæps /

adverb

1. maybe; possibly.

   Perhaps the package will arrive today.

---

perhaps British  

/ 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

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

Example Sentences

I have no solution for the fraught dynamics of social media, besides perhaps throwing one’s phone in a lake, and “Yesteryear’s” target audience isn’t likely to heed that advice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

The hosts get generational wealth and perhaps retain enough editorial freedom to look in the mirror and tell themselves they aren’t sellouts.

From Slate • Apr. 7, 2026

Still, investors seemed blasé about the war, perhaps also potentially taking heart from the better-than-expected March jobs report, delivered while the market was closed on Friday.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

It is symbolic of your enterprising younger self, and all of those fancy cars and five-star vacations that you passed up on, perhaps using that money as a down payment on your next property instead.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

It had never been done before, but perhaps the Afterlife would allow it, after seeing what a brilliant team they’d become.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman