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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

maybe en · ADJ

Pronunciation

  • (UK) audio
  • /mɛˈbiː/ (Northumbria)
  • mā'bē
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈmæɪ.bi/ (Australia)
  • /ˈmeɪ.bi/
  • [ˈmæɪ̯.bi] (Australia)
  • [ˈmeɪ̯.bi]

Etymology

From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be. Compare mayhap.

Meanings

  1. Possible; uncertain.
    • Then add those may-be years thou hast to live 1687, John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther, part III line 294:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
may-be alternative, obsolete lexicographic
more maybe Degree=Cmp lexicographic
most maybe Degree=Sup lexicographic
mebbe alternative, dialectal lexicographic

maybe en · ADV

Pronunciation

  • (UK) audio
  • /mɛˈbiː/ (Northumbria)
  • mā'bē
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈmæɪ.bi/ (Australia)
  • /ˈmeɪ.bi/
  • [ˈmæɪ̯.bi] (Australia)
  • [ˈmeɪ̯.bi]

Etymology

From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be. Compare mayhap.

Meanings

  1. (not-comparable) Perhaps, possibly.
    • A small extra effort now can maybe save you much work later.
    • Maybe I was imagining it, but I could swear that the dog understood what I was saying.
  2. (as a pro-sentence, not-comparable) Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
    • Okay. See you later, maybe. — Maybe I’ll see you later. 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
  3. (UK, not-comparable) Certainly.
    • Maybe not the best idea.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
may-be alternative, obsolete lexicographic
mebbe alternative, dialectal lexicographic

Deriveds

and I don't mean maybe · maybe baby effect · maybeness · maybeso · maybeish · maybe baby bias · maybe type

Synonyms

that’s possible (as a pro-sentence) · possibly (as a pro-sentence) · mayhaps (as a pro-sentence) · perhaps (as a pro-sentence) · could be (as a pro-sentence) · mayhaps (perhaps) · might be (as a pro-sentence) · possibly (perhaps) · peradventure (perhaps) · perhaps (perhaps)

Translations (316)

fi jospa (indicating a lack of certainty) · be мо́жа быць (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl quizais (indicating a lack of certainty) · es quizá (indicating a lack of certainty) · ro poate (as a pro-sentence) · it magari (indicating a lack of certainty) · cy dichon (indicating a lack of certainty) · es talvez (indicating a lack of certainty) · kgp hẽn ri ke mũn (indicating a lack of certainty) · kk ықтимал (indicating a lack of certainty) · nl misschien (indicating a lack of certainty) · mi āwhai (as a pro-sentence) · tl baka (indicating a lack of certainty) · ur غالباً (indicating a lack of certainty) · ur شاید (indicating a lack of certainty) · uga 𐎎𐎐𐎄𐎓 (indicating a lack of certainty) · bg мо́же би (indicating a lack of certainty) · vec forsi (indicating a lack of certainty) · sv möjligen (indicating a lack of certainty) · ca potser (indicating a lack of certainty) · la fors (indicating a lack of certainty) · ja 若しや (indicating a lack of certainty) · grc ἴσως (indicating a lack of certainty) · az ola bilsin (indicating a lack of certainty) · kw martesen (indicating a lack of certainty) · wa motoit (indicating a lack of certainty) · crg maashkoot (indicating a lack of certainty) · zza belki (diq) (indicating a lack of certainty) · zza qay (diq) (indicating a lack of certainty) · ru то́ ли (indicating a lack of certainty) · pa ਸ਼ਾਇਦ (indicating a lack of certainty) · th คงจะ (indicating a lack of certainty) · fwe témà (indicating a lack of certainty) · sh мо̀жда (as a pro-sentence) · la fortasse (indicating a lack of certainty) · ary يمكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · apc احتمال (indicating a lack of certainty) · be мо́жа (indicating a lack of certainty) · sa स्यात् (indicating a lack of certainty) · fr il se peut que (indicating a lack of certainty) · ko 어쩌면 (indicating a lack of certainty) · ka შესაძლოა (indicating a lack of certainty) · es quizás (indicating a lack of certainty) · ms mungkin (indicating a lack of certainty) · gd 's dòcha (indicating a lack of certainty) · mk можеби (indicating a lack of certainty) · ru наве́рное (indicating a lack of certainty) · fo kanska (as a pro-sentence) · tk belki (indicating a lack of certainty) · crm mâškôc (indicating a lack of certainty) · th อาจจะ (indicating a lack of certainty) · cs asi (indicating a lack of certainty) · ar مِن اَلْمُمْكِن (as a pro-sentence) · nn kan henda (indicating a lack of certainty) · de womöglich (indicating a lack of certainty) · nl het zou kunnen (as a pro-sentence) · kix tèitsōu è (indicating a lack of certainty) · es igual (indicating a lack of certainty) · apc بجوز (indicating a lack of certainty) · yi אפֿשר (indicating a lack of certainty) · nb kan hende (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt quiçá (as a pro-sentence) · ba бәлки (indicating a lack of certainty) · ckb ڕەنگە (indicating a lack of certainty) · ro poate (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl seica (indicating a lack of certainty) · apc بركي (indicating a lack of certainty) · yue 或者 (indicating a lack of certainty) · ru возмо́жно (as a pro-sentence) · az bəlkə (indicating a lack of certainty) · apc ممكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · kmr dibe ku (indicating a lack of certainty) · tt мөмкин (indicating a lack of certainty) · sh mòžda (as a pro-sentence) · ang wēnunga (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt talvez (indicating a lack of certainty) · ar لَعَلَّ (indicating a lack of certainty) · lo ອາດຈະ (indicating a lack of certainty) · es acaso (indicating a lack of certainty) · et võibolla (indicating a lack of certainty) · gd 's mathaid (indicating a lack of certainty) · vi có lẽ (indicating a lack of certainty) · frr flicht (indicating a lack of certainty) · avd شاید (indicating a lack of certainty) · nl mogelijk (indicating a lack of certainty) · sv kanhända (indicating a lack of certainty) · ast quiciás (indicating a lack of certainty) · lad puedeser (indicating a lack of certainty) · ru мо́жет быть (indicating a lack of certainty) · da måske (as a pro-sentence) · ce хила тарло (indicating a lack of certainty) · ale amustukux̂ (indicating a lack of certainty) · sq ndoshta (indicating a lack of certainty) · ajp بلكي (indicating a lack of certainty) · kk мүмкін (indicating a lack of certainty) · nl misschien (as a pro-sentence) · tr belki (indicating a lack of certainty) · chn alaxti (indicating a lack of certainty) · eu naski (indicating a lack of certainty) · nl mogelijk (as a pro-sentence) · nv daatsʼí (indicating a lack of certainty) · mi āwhai (indicating a lack of certainty) · hi कदाचित (as a pro-sentence) · hy միգուցե (indicating a lack of certainty) · ga b'fhéidir (as a pro-sentence) · liv agā (indicating a lack of certainty) · sk možno (indicating a lack of certainty) · lij fòscia (indicating a lack of certainty) · mhr ала (indicating a lack of certainty) · sl mordà (indicating a lack of certainty) · wa putete (indicating a lack of certainty) · acw بلكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · ky мүмкүн (indicating a lack of certainty) · ba мөмкин (indicating a lack of certainty) · uz balki (indicating a lack of certainty) · es tal vez (indicating a lack of certainty) · tt ихтимал (indicating a lack of certainty) · de vielleicht (indicating a lack of certainty) · la fortassis (indicating a lack of certainty) · pl może (indicating a lack of certainty) · et äkki (indicating a lack of certainty) · myv улема (indicating a lack of certainty) · sl mogóče (as a pro-sentence) · sk azda (indicating a lack of certainty) · fr peut-être (indicating a lack of certainty) · hu talán (indicating a lack of certainty) · arz يمكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · sv kanske (indicating a lack of certainty) · sv kanske (as a pro-sentence) · uk можли́во (indicating a lack of certainty) · ja 多分 (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl poida (as a pro-sentence) · nl wellicht (indicating a lack of certainty) · is ef til vill (as a pro-sentence) · uk пе́вно (indicating a lack of certainty) · cmn 可能 (indicating a lack of certainty) · ru возмо́жно (indicating a lack of certainty) · oc bensai (indicating a lack of certainty) · cs možná (indicating a lack of certainty) · he אוּלַי (as a pro-sentence) · ast quiciáis (indicating a lack of certainty) · ajp يمكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · mfe devet (indicating a lack of certainty) · mn магадгүй (indicating a lack of certainty) · es capaz que (indicating a lack of certainty) · mt forsi (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt quiçá (indicating a lack of certainty) · ky балким (indicating a lack of certainty) · oj iindog (indicating a lack of certainty) · apc يمكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · be ма́быць (indicating a lack of certainty) · ba ихтимал (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt possivelmente (as a pro-sentence) · pt pode ser (as a pro-sentence) · it può essere (as a pro-sentence) · lo ບາງທີ (indicating a lack of certainty) · aeb پٌتِيتْرْ (indicating a lack of certainty) · nb kan hende (as a pro-sentence) · af miskien (indicating a lack of certainty) · et järsku (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt porventura (indicating a lack of certainty) · fa شاید (indicating a lack of certainty) · af dalk (indicating a lack of certainty) · ka შესაძლებელია (indicating a lack of certainty) · ko 아마 (indicating a lack of certainty) · km ប្រហែល (indicating a lack of certainty) · roa-gal ventieil' (indicating a lack of certainty) · hi कदाचित् (indicating a lack of certainty) · ja …かもしれない (indicating a lack of certainty) · tg шояд (indicating a lack of certainty) · csm mi·kán (indicating a lack of certainty) · is máske (indicating a lack of certainty) · gd 's dòcha (as a pro-sentence) · cy ella (indicating a lack of certainty) · chr ᎠᏎᏛ (indicating a lack of certainty) · it forse (as a pro-sentence) · hi शायद (indicating a lack of certainty) · is kannski (indicating a lack of certainty) · hi कदाचित (indicating a lack of certainty) · et vahest (indicating a lack of certainty) · da måske (indicating a lack of certainty) · oj maagizhaa (indicating a lack of certainty) · eo eble (indicating a lack of certainty) · uk мо́же бу́ти (indicating a lack of certainty) · sl mogóče (indicating a lack of certainty) · pdt veleicht (indicating a lack of certainty) · is kannske (as a pro-sentence) · kk бәлки (indicating a lack of certainty) · tt бәлки (indicating a lack of certainty) · ug بەلكى (indicating a lack of certainty) · aeb يُمْكِنْ (indicating a lack of certainty) · la forsan (indicating a lack of certainty) · nds-de villichte (indicating a lack of certainty) · nn kanskje (indicating a lack of certainty) · nb må hende (indicating a lack of certainty) · aeb بَالِكْشِي (as a pro-sentence) · acw يمكن (indicating a lack of certainty) · ast seique (indicating a lack of certainty) · ast quiciabes (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt é possível (as a pro-sentence) · pt se calhar (indicating a lack of certainty) · la forsitan (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl cecais (indicating a lack of certainty) · fo kanska (indicating a lack of certainty) · ps شايد (indicating a lack of certainty) · cmn 或是 (as a pro-sentence) · pt possivelmente (indicating a lack of certainty) · la forte (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt talvez (as a pro-sentence) · oc benlèu (indicating a lack of certainty) · ga is dócha (indicating a lack of certainty) · uk мо́же (indicating a lack of certainty) · ar مِن اَلْمُمْكِن (indicating a lack of certainty) · de möglicherweise (indicating a lack of certainty) · be магчы́ма (indicating a lack of certainty) · nds-de villicht (indicating a lack of certainty) · id barangkali (indicating a lack of certainty) · he אוּלַי (indicating a lack of certainty) · myv кие соды (indicating a lack of certainty) · lt galbūt (indicating a lack of certainty) · is máske (as a pro-sentence) · ast escurque (indicating a lack of certainty) · de gut möglich (as a pro-sentence) · pt se calhar (as a pro-sentence) · lt gal (indicating a lack of certainty) · ms barangkali (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl se cadra (indicating a lack of certainty) · ru мо́жет быть (as a pro-sentence) · la forsit (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt porventura (as a pro-sentence) · haw paha (indicating a lack of certainty) · aeb يُمْكِنْ (as a pro-sentence) · cmn 也許 /也许 (as a pro-sentence) · cmn 或許 /或许 (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl se cadra (as a pro-sentence) · io forsan (indicating a lack of certainty) · ar رُبَّمَا (as a pro-sentence) · ug مۇمكىن (indicating a lack of certainty) · lv varbūt (indicating a lack of certainty) · ba ихтимал (as a pro-sentence) · ja …でしょう (indicating a lack of certainty) · aeb بَالِكْشْ (indicating a lack of certainty) · es es posible (as a pro-sentence) · is kannske (indicating a lack of certainty) · yue 有可能 (indicating a lack of certainty) · cy efallai (indicating a lack of certainty) · vec forse (indicating a lack of certainty) · cmn 或是 (indicating a lack of certainty) · fi voi olla (as a pro-sentence) · is máski (indicating a lack of certainty) · ja 多分 (as a pro-sentence) · sk vari (indicating a lack of certainty) · fy miskien (indicating a lack of certainty) · nds-de viellichte (indicating a lack of certainty) · uk ма́буть (indicating a lack of certainty) · tr olabilir (indicating a lack of certainty) · is máski (as a pro-sentence) · fr peut-être (as a pro-sentence) · uz ehtimol (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt quem sabe (as a pro-sentence) · fr peut-être que (indicating a lack of certainty) · is ef til vill (indicating a lack of certainty) · be мо (indicating a lack of certainty) · et ehk (indicating a lack of certainty) · crk êtikwê (indicating a lack of certainty) · ga b'fhéidir (indicating a lack of certainty) · gl quizaves (indicating a lack of certainty) · fi ehkä (indicating a lack of certainty) · it chissà (indicating a lack of certainty) · ckb لەوانەیە (indicating a lack of certainty) · it forse (indicating a lack of certainty) · mr कदाचित (indicating a lack of certainty) · ar رُبَّمَا (indicating a lack of certainty) · sh мо̏гӯће (as a pro-sentence) · he יִתָּכֵן (indicating a lack of certainty) · gun xapy'a rei (indicating a lack of certainty) · pl być może (indicating a lack of certainty) · sh mȍgūće (as a pro-sentence) · es de repente (indicating a lack of certainty) · cs možná (as a pro-sentence) · hy միգուցե (as a pro-sentence) · ko 아마도 (indicating a lack of certainty) · nb kanskje det (as a pro-sentence) · mi pea (indicating a lack of certainty) · kk бәлкім (indicating a lack of certainty) · ast igual (indicating a lack of certainty) · sv möjligen (as a pro-sentence) · sco mibbe (indicating a lack of certainty) · sv måhända (indicating a lack of certainty) · nb kanskje (indicating a lack of certainty) · crk mâskôc (indicating a lack of certainty) · pt quem sabe (indicating a lack of certainty) · chr ᎠᏎᏱᎩ (indicating a lack of certainty) · de kann sein (as a pro-sentence) · es de pronto (indicating a lack of certainty) · gcr pitèt (indicating a lack of certainty) · nl mogelijkerwijs (indicating a lack of certainty) · gd 's mathaid (as a pro-sentence) · th บางที (indicating a lack of certainty) · roa-gal ventieil' (as a pro-sentence) · el ίσως (indicating a lack of certainty) · cmn 可能 (as a pro-sentence) · ba бәлки (as a pro-sentence) · cmn 或許 /或许 (as a pro-sentence) · myv паряк (indicating a lack of certainty) · fr c'est possible (as a pro-sentence) · kk шығар (indicating a lack of certainty) · sk možno (as a pro-sentence) · is kannski (as a pro-sentence) · cmn 也許 /也许 (indicating a lack of certainty) · de vielleicht (as a pro-sentence) · apc بلكي (indicating a lack of certainty) · wa kécfeye (indicating a lack of certainty) · nn må henda (indicating a lack of certainty) · es puede que (indicating a lack of certainty) · et võib-olla (indicating a lack of certainty)

maybe en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • (UK) audio
  • /mɛˈbiː/ (Northumbria)
  • mā'bē
  • (US) audio
  • /ˈmæɪ.bi/ (Australia)
  • /ˈmeɪ.bi/
  • [ˈmæɪ̯.bi] (Australia)
  • [ˈmeɪ̯.bi]

Etymology

From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be. Compare mayhap.

Meanings

  1. (informal) Something that is possibly true.
  2. (informal) An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.
    • The results of the poll were inconclusive. We got two yeses, three nos, and four maybes.
  3. (informal) A future event that may or may not happen.
    • About your raise: it's a big maybe.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
may-be alternative, obsolete lexicographic
mebbe alternative, dialectal lexicographic
maybes Number=Plur lexicographic

Deriveds

definite maybe

Synonyms

perhaps