perhaps

perhaps
per|haps
W1S2 [pəˈhæps, præps US pər-, præps] adv
[Date: 1400-1500; Origin: per + haps, plural of hap 'chance' (13-20 centuries) ( HAPPY)]
1.) used to say that something may be true, but you are not sure
= ↑maybe
▪ Perhaps she's next door.
▪ Perhaps it will snow tomorrow.
▪ It won't take so long next time, perhaps.
▪ 'I don't think you understand.' 'Well, perhaps not .'
2.) used to give your opinion, when you do not want to be too definite
= ↑maybe
▪ This is perhaps her finest novel yet.
▪ The industrial revolution was, perhaps, the most important event in history.
3.) used to say that a number is only a guess
= ↑maybe
▪ The room was large, perhaps twenty feet square.
▪ Perhaps 200 people were there.
4.) spoken used to politely ask or suggest something, or say what you are going to do
= ↑maybe
▪ I thought perhaps we'd have lunch in the garden.
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HINT sense 1
May or might usually sounds more natural than perhaps ... will: You may be a little surprised when you receive this letter.
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Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Perhaps — Per*haps , adv. [Per + hap chance.] By chance; peradventure; perchance; it may be. [1913 Webster] And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Acts viii. 22. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • perhaps — 1520s, formed from M.E. per, par by, through + plural of hap chance (see HAPPEN (Cf. happen)), on model of peradventure, perchance, etc. which now have been superseded by this word …   Etymology dictionary

  • perhaps — [adv] possibly as it may be, as the case may be, conceivably, feasibly, for all one knows, imaginably, it may be, maybe, perchance, reasonably; concept 552 Ant. improbably, never, unlikely …   New thesaurus

  • perhaps — ► ADVERB 1) expressing uncertainty or possibility. 2) used when making a polite request or suggestion. ORIGIN from PER(Cf. ↑per) + HAP(Cf. ↑H) …   English terms dictionary

  • perhaps — [pər haps′] adv. [ PER1 + haps, pl. of HAP1] possibly; maybe …   English World dictionary

  • perhaps — [[t]pə(r)hæ̱ps, præ̱ps[/t]] ♦ 1) ADV: ADV with cl/group (vagueness) You use perhaps to express uncertainty, for example, when you do not know that something is definitely true, or when you are mentioning something that may possibly happen in the… …   English dictionary

  • perhaps — per|haps [ pər hæps ] adverb *** Perhaps can be used in the following ways: as a sentence adverb (making a comment on the whole sentence or clause): Perhaps we ve met before. as an ordinary adverb (before a number): He was perhaps 95. 1. ) used… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • perhaps */*/*/ — UK [pə(r)ˈhæps] / US [pərˈhæps] adverb Summary: Perhaps can be used in the following ways: as a sentence adverb (making a comment on the whole sentence or clause): Perhaps we ve met before. as an ordinary adverb (before a number): He was perhaps… …   English dictionary

  • perhaps — adverb 1 possibly; maybe: This is perhaps her finest novel yet. | Perhaps she s next door. | Do you think Mark s upset? Perhaps. | perhaps not: Do you think I dare ask him? Perhaps not. 2 used to say that a number is only a guess: The room was… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • perhaps*/*/*/ — [pəˈhæps] adv 1) used for saying that you are not certain whether something is true I haven t seen them for months – perhaps they ve moved away.[/ex] There were perhaps a dozen women in the audience.[/ex] 2) spoken used when you are making a… …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

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