perhaps

1 of 2

adverb

per·​haps pər-ˈhaps 

ˈpraps

: possibly but not certainly : maybe

perhaps

2 of 2

noun

: something open to doubt or conjecture

Synonyms of perhaps

Adverb

• maybe
• possibly
• probably

Examples of perhaps in a Sentence

Adverb

perhaps we will not have to take this exam, but I doubt it

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

And, perhaps most bafflingly, X-ray measurements sometimes imply the shocks are too weak to accelerate electrons at all, seemingly contradicting the very existence of radio relics. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025

There's a lot on the line -- from funding for infrastructure projects, to setting parameters around immigration enforcement and, perhaps most importantly, Mamdani needs federal security clearance to be briefed on terror threats and other law enforcement activity. —Christina Fan, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

But for alpha travelers who are used to calling the shots at work and elsewhere in their lives, relinquishing some control is perhaps the ultimate luxury. —Adam Erace, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2025

Inside the furnace of Borglum’s imagination, Rushmore had become perhaps the purest artistic representation of America’s political system, its symbol of freedom and democracy, the personification of visual Americana. —Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

per + hap

First Known Use

Adverb

circa 1520, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1643, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for perhaps

• bitmaps
• bootstraps
• collapse
• elapse
• mishaps
• prolapse
• relapse
• satraps
• wiretaps
• apps
• caps
• chaps

Kids Definition

perhaps

adverb

per·​haps

pər-ˈ(h)aps, 

ˈpraps

: possibly but not certainly

Etymology

Adverb

from per (preposition) "by, according to" and haps, plural of hap "chance, chance occurrence" — related to happen, happy, mishap