Word
perhaps
Phoneticsper·haps, stress on the second syllable
US/pɝˈhæps/
UK/pəhˈæps/
Sentence adverb
Definitions
01possibly
A2 · Elementary
adv. used to say that something might be true or might happen.
adv. used to express uncertainty or to indicate that a statement is a possibility rather than a fact.
“Perhaps we should check the weather before we leave for our hike.”
“Perhaps the most significant finding of the study is that sleep quality impacts cognitive performance more than previously assumed.”
Pitfall
Perhaps will it rain tomorrow.
Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.
Unlike 'maybe', 'perhaps' does not usually trigger a change in word order; place it before the subject or the whole clause.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02polite suggestion
B1 · Intermediate Formal
adv. you use this to be polite when suggesting an idea or asking for something.
adv. employed as a pragmatic marker to soften a request, suggestion, or criticism, making it appear less direct.
“Perhaps you could help me move this table to the other room?”
“Perhaps you would be kind enough to forward the revised contract to the legal department for a final review.”
Synonyms
03an uncertainty
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. a thing that is not certain or has not been decided yet.
n. an uncertainty or a possibility that has not yet been confirmed. Often used in the plural 'perhapses'.
“Life is full of 'perhapses' and very few certainties.”
“The future of the project is currently a series of perhapses, contingent upon the next round of venture capital funding.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Would you eat lab-grown chocolate? It could eventually cut down on the production of traditional chocolate, which degrades soil and requires much fertilizer and pesticides, perhaps offering a more sustainable future for our sweet treats.” “We assess whether that tempting idea is too good to be true, perhaps delving into the scientific evidence behind the health claims of dark chocolate.” “If you are trying to catch out a chatbot take care, because one cutting-edge tool is showing signs it knows what you are up to. Anthropic, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company, has released a safety analysis of its latest model, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and revealed it had become suspicious it was being tested in some way, perhaps for its ability to detect subtle prompts.” “How about a spoonful of ant yoghurt? Making it does not involve milking any ants. Instead, the unfortunate insects are dropped into a jar of warm milk, which is tucked into an ant mound and left to ferment overnight. The fermenting tradition originating from Turkey and Bulgaria is now being resurrected in the name of perhaps a new culinary adventure.” Etymology
From Middle English perhappes, perhappous, variant of earlier perhap (“perhaps, possibly”), equivalent to per + hap (“chance, coincidence”) + -s, on model of Middle English parchaunce (modern perchance).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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