English Dictionary
Definition maybe in British English
maybe
adverb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
adverb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
Maybe can be used in the following ways:
as a sentence adverb, making a comment on the whole sentence or clause: Maybe I’ll come too.
as an ordinary adverb (before a number): There were maybe 15 people there.
Don’t confuse the adverb maybe (one word), which means ‘perhaps’, with may be (two words), which means ‘could be’:
✗ In an earthquake your house maybe badly damaged.
✓ In an earthquake your house may be badly damaged.
✗ It maybe an unfulfilled dream.
✓ It may be an unfulfilled dream.
Maybe and perhaps have the same meaning, but maybe is used mainly in spoken English and informal writing. In more formal English, perhaps is far more common:
Now, maybe I haven’t explained myself very well.
There are, perhaps, three principles which must be followed.
used for making a suggestion when you are not sure what to do
