perhaps

UK: weak: /ˈpræps/, strong: /pə^rˈhæps/

US: /pɚˈhæps/

US: (pər haps′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•haps /pɚˈhæps/   adv. 

1. maybe;
   possibly:
   Perhaps I misunderstood you.
2. (used when making requests to make them more polite):
   Perhaps we could meet again next week?

Usage

See -hap-, maybe.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

per•haps  (pər haps′), adv. 

1. maybe;
   possibly:
   Perhaps the package will arrive today.

• earlier perhappes, perhapis by haps. See per, hap¹, -s¹ 1520–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

perhaps / pəˈhæps (informal) præps/ adverb

1. possibly; maybe
2. (as sentence modifier): she'll arrive tomorrow, perhaps, perhaps you'll see them tomorrow

sentence_substitute

1. it may happen, be so, etc; maybe

Etymology: 16th Century perhappes, from per by + happes chance, hap¹