# may

/ˈmeɪ/ (US) · /mˈeɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/may
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. possibility

verb · CEFR A1

used to say that something is possible or might happen.

For teachers: expresses a degree of epistemic possibility or likelihood.

- We may go to the beach this weekend if the weather stays warm.
- The proposed changes may lead to significant improvements in efficiency, though the initial implementation phase will likely be challenging.

### 2. permission

verb · CEFR A2 · Formal

used to ask for or give permission in a polite way.

For teachers: denotes the granting or seeking of permission; considered more formal than 'can'.

- May I use your phone for a moment to call my parents?
- Visitors may enter the gallery only after presenting a valid ticket at the main reception desk.

### 3. expressing a wish

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary · Formal

used to express a strong wish or hope for someone.

For teachers: used in the subjunctive mood to express a formal wish or benediction.

- May you both be very happy in your new home.
- May the new year bring prosperity and peace to all citizens of this nation.

### 4. the month

noun · CEFR A1

the fifth month of the year, coming after April and before June.

For teachers: the fifth month of the Gregorian calendar. Always capitalized as a proper noun.

- The flowers in the garden usually look their best in May.
- The annual conference is scheduled for the second week of May to coincide with the spring festival.

### 5. hawthorn blossom

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · British English

the white or pink flowers of the hawthorn bush that bloom in spring.

For teachers: the blossom of the hawthorn tree, Crataegus monogyna. Often used in a collective sense.

- The hedges were white with may in the early spring sunshine.
- The poet describes the countryside as being draped in may, signaling the definitive arrival of the new season.

## Examples

- May I use your phone for a moment?
- The forecast suggests it may rain later this afternoon, so we should bring umbrellas just in case.
- While the experimental data may suggest a correlation, further peer-reviewed studies are required to establish a definitive causal relationship between the two variables.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.