perhaps

1 of 2

adverb

per·​haps pər-ˈhaps How to pronounce perhaps (audio)
ˈpraps
: possibly but not certainly : maybe

perhaps

2 of 2

noun

: something open to doubt or conjecture

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
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Adverb
But perhaps being home could be a detriment, as Sanders displayed some worries about his phone. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2025 But this new caterpillar has perhaps the most gruesome method of fashioning a case yet discovered, a bizarre housekeeping regime not reported in any other insect. Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025 However, on its 10th anniversary (or perhaps more appropriately its aluminum anniversary), the Apple Watch Series 10 faces a tumultuous global market. Adrienne So, Wired News, 24 Apr. 2025 And perhaps most powerfully, the framework treats failure as a feature, not a bug. Aparna Rae, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for perhaps

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

per + hap

First Known Use

Adverb

circa 1520, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of perhaps was circa 1520

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Cite this Entry

“Perhaps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perhaps. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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

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