perhaps
1 of 2adverb
per·haps pər-ˈhaps 
ˈpraps
: possibly but not certainly : maybe
perhaps
2 of 2noun
: something open to doubt or conjecture
Synonyms
Adverb
- conceivably
- maybe
- mayhap
- perchance
- possibly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adverb perhaps we will not have to take this exam, but I doubt it
Recent Examples on the Web
Brianna Griff, Chron, 11 Sep. 2022 The Nabis represent the single biggest enthusiasm of the Keithleys, while also underscoring their passion for color, perhaps the show’s biggest unifying theme. Steven Litt, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 In the last half of August theDistrict officially recorded about one third of an inch of rain, perhaps just enough to suppress alarm over possible drought. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022 Perhaps her mental makeup is different, or perhaps, at least early in her career, she was never allowed to be. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022 But German would not leave the world without providing perhaps his final clue to investigators. James Rainey And Brittny Mejia, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 The Russian military's collapse that led to the loss of Izyum can largely be attributed to one simple fact: Russian forces left their flanks undefended, perhaps because of growing troop shortages, exhausted conscripts and low morale. Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2022 But perhaps the real revolution in our perception of the Queen came from members of the press -- and their telephoto lenses. Nick Glass, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 But perhaps the cutest state designation belongs to the dozen dog breeds that are official state dogs. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022 See More
Adverb
The 8,602 square-foot home has five bedrooms, including separate quarters with an efficiency kitchen and separate entrance that would be ideal for extended family or perhaps a live-in nanny. Brianna Griff, Chron, 11 Sep. 2022 The Nabis represent the single biggest enthusiasm of the Keithleys, while also underscoring their passion for color, perhaps the show’s biggest unifying theme. Steven Litt, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 In the last half of August theDistrict officially recorded about one third of an inch of rain, perhaps just enough to suppress alarm over possible drought. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2022 Perhaps her mental makeup is different, or perhaps, at least early in her career, she was never allowed to be. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2022 But German would not leave the world without providing perhaps his final clue to investigators. James Rainey And Brittny Mejia, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2022 The Russian military's collapse that led to the loss of Izyum can largely be attributed to one simple fact: Russian forces left their flanks undefended, perhaps because of growing troop shortages, exhausted conscripts and low morale. Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2022 But perhaps the real revolution in our perception of the Queen came from members of the press -- and their telephoto lenses. Nick Glass, CNN, 10 Sep. 2022 But perhaps the cutest state designation belongs to the dozen dog breeds that are official state dogs. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 10 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adverb
per + hap
First Known Use
Adverb
circa 1520, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1534, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
perhaps
adverb
per·haps pər-ˈhaps
: possibly but not certainly : maybe
Perhaps we'll go.
perhaps
adverb
as in maybe
it is possible perhaps we will not have to take this exam, but I doubt it Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- maybe
- possibly
- probably
- surely
- sure
- conceivably
- certainly
- perchance
- likely
- mayhap
- undoubtedly
- supposedly
- presumably
- doubtless
- assumably
- presumedly
- supposably