perhaps — used to express uncertainty or possibility
Part of speech: ADVERB
Definition: used to express uncertainty or possibility
Pronunciation (IPA): /pərˈhæps/
Example Sentences
- Perhaps aliens are just bad at parallel parking, so they keep crashing into Earth.
- Perhaps you should study more for the exam.
- Perhaps my cat thinks I'm just a really big, clumsy cat who can't hunt properly.
perhaps
ADVERB[/pərˈhæps/]
used to express uncertainty or possibility
He stands at a fork in the road — hesitating, unsure which path to take.
Perhaps the gaps in these maps hold treasure!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Perhaps derives from Middle English 'per haps', a combination of the preposition 'per' (meaning 'by') and the noun 'haps' (meaning 'chance' or 'fortune'). The phrase literally meant 'by chance' and evolved to express possibility or uncertainty.
Breakdown
per- (by, through) + haps (chance, fortune, luck). The word combines a preposition indicating agency with a noun denoting chance occurrences, originally expressing something that might happen by fortune or accident.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Perhaps aliens are just bad at parallel parking, so they keep crashing into Earth.”
“Perhaps you should study more for the exam.”
“Perhaps my cat thinks I'm just a really big, clumsy cat who can't hunt properly.”
“Perhaps we could meet tomorrow instead.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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