may

1 of 3

auxiliary verb

ˈmā 

past might ˈmīt  ; present singular and plural may

1

a

—used to indicate possibility or probability

you may be right

things you may need

—sometimes used interchangeably with can

… one of those slipups that may happen from time to time …

—Jessica Mitford

—sometimes used where might would be expected

… you may think from a little distance that the country was solid woods.

—Robert Frost

b

: have permission to

you may go now

: be free to

… a rug … on which children may sprawl …

—C. E. Silberman

—used nearly interchangeably with can

c

archaic : have the ability to

2

—used in auxiliary function expressing purpose or expectation

I laugh that I may not weep

or contingency

she'll do her duty come what may

or concession

he may be slow but he is thorough

or choice

The angler may catch them with a dip net, or he may cast a large, bare treble hook …

—Nelson Bryant

3

—used in auxiliary function to express a wish or desire especially in prayer, imprecation, or benediction

may the best man win

4

: shall, must

—used in law where the sense, purpose, or policy requires this interpretation

Can vs. May: Usage Guide

Can and may are most frequently interchangeable in uses indicating possibility; because the possibility of one's doing something may depend on another's compliance, they have also become interchangeable in the sense that means "to have permission." The use of can to ask or grant permission has been common since the 19th century and is well established, although some feel may is more appropriate in formal contexts. May is relatively rare in negative constructions (mayn't is not common); cannot and can't are usual in such contexts.

may

2 of 3

noun (1)

ˈmā 

archaic

: maiden

May

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈmā 

1

: the fifth month of the Gregorian calendar

2

often may : the early vigorous blooming part of human life : prime

3

: the festivities of May Day

4

may

a

: green or flowering branches used for May Day decorations

b

: a plant that yields may: such as

(1)

: hawthorn

(2)

: a spring-flowering spirea

Examples of may in a Sentence

Noun (2)

Shakespeare called it “the merry month of May.”

The last two Mays have been cold and rainy.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Imax held preliminary talks with potential buyers earlier this year, but as of May hadn't fielded any official pitches, CNBC reported at the time. — Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

The film world premiered in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section in May, becoming the first Thai feature selected for the sidebar in nearly two decades. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

This year’s Miss Teen USA competition was hosted by former Miss USA 2023 Noelia Voigt, who made headlines for her resignation back in May 2024. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

The recent announcement also follows the prior freeze on base rates approved by the Georgia PSC in July 2025, as well as the plan approved in May 2026 to lower overall rates, as per the release. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026

In May 2025, an Army sergeant major warned that the Army’s operational tempo had surpassed the demands of the war on terror after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. — Monica Duffy Toft, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

York had filed for divorce from his wife in May due to irreconcilable differences, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

In May 2022, the SEC said, Wolfe contacted Satsky seeking confidential updates on the regulatory approval process. — Chase Jordan august 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026

Silversea Cruises’ Silver Whisper also helped rescue a man from a disabled sailing vessel nearly 500 miles off the Oregon coast in late May. — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Auxiliary verb

Middle English (1st & 3rd singular present indicative, infinitive mowen) "be able to," going back to Old English mæg (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), plural magon, mægon, going back to Germanic *mag (1st & 3rd singular present indicative), *magum (1st plural) (whence also Old Frisian mei – mugon, Old Saxon mag – mugun, Old High German mag – magun, mugun, Old Icelandic má – mego, mugo, Gothic mag – magun), going back to an Indo-European verbal base *mag^h- (or *mog^h-) "be able to," whence also Old Church Slavic mogǫ, mošti "to be able to," Russian mogú, močʼ, Lithuanian magù, magė́ti "to please, suit," Sanskrit ā́ mahe "provides"

Note: See also might entry 1, might entry 2, and machine entry 1. The formal history of may in English and Germanic is discussed in some detail in the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition.

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English mǣg kinsman, kinswoman, maiden

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French mai, from Latin Maius, from Maia, Roman goddess

First Known Use

Auxiliary Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Noun (1)

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing may

• be that as it may
• come what may
• devil-may-care
• if I may/might say so
• if I may say so
• let the chips fall where they may
• may I just say
• might/may as well
• whatever the case (may be)
• wherever that may be
• your mileage may vary

Rhymes for may

• ay
• bay
• bey
• brae
• cay
• chez
• dey
• dray
• fay
• fey
• flay
• fray

Kids Definition

may

1 of 2 helping verb

(ˈ)mā

past might

(ˈ)mīt

; present singular & plural may

1

a

: have permission to

you may go now

b

: be in some degree likely to

you may be right

2

—used to express a wish or desire

long may she reign

may the best man win

3

—used to express purpose

we exercise so that we may be strong

or possibility of happening

he'll do his duty come what may

May

2 of 2 noun

ˈmā 

: the fifth month of the year

Etymology

Noun

from Middle English May (fifth month), from early French mai (same meaning), from Latin Maius, originally, "third month," from Maia "Roman goddess of spring"

Word Origin

Among the gods and goddesses worshipped by the ancient Romans was one known as Maia, a goddess of spring. In spring the Romans would make offerings to her on the first day of a month they called Maius, meaning "of Maia." The name of the Roman month was borrowed into early French as mai and later into English as May. For the early Romans Maius was the third month of the year; but after January and February were added, May became the fifth month.

Biographical Definition

May

biographical name

ˈmā 

Theresa (Mary) 1956–     née Theresa Mary Brasier British prime minister (2016–2019)