maybe
Neither yes nor
Maybe expresses uncertainty or possibility—something might be true or might happen, but you're not sure: Maybe we should wait, Maybe it'll rain.
It can soften a suggestion or hedge a commitment: Maybe we could try again tomorrow.
As a noun, a maybe is an uncertain response: I got three yeses and two maybes.
Expressing uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- conceivablyWithin imagination's reach
- potentiallyWith latent possibility
- perchanceArchaic word for maybe
chance · likelihood · prospect · probability · eventuality · contingency · opportunity · option
Not firmly known
- unsureLacking confidence or certainty
- unclearNot easily understood
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- indeterminateNot exactly known
ambiguous · vague · questionable · debatable · undecided · unresolved · inconclusive · unpredictable
Slow to act
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- noncommittalNot expressing clear opinion
reluctant · fence-sitting · vacillating · dithering · equivocating · hedging · stalling · waffling
Inclined to question claims
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
- suspiciousInclined to distrust
incredulous · unconvinced · mistrustful · wary · leery · disbelieving · cynical · guarded
In approximate terms
- approximatelyClose but not exact
- aroundIn the vicinity
- aboutConcerning or approximately
- somewhatTo a moderate extent
more-or-less · ballpark · estimate · circa · ish · somewhere · nearabout · thereabouts
perhaps
Expressing uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- conceivablyWithin imagination's reach
- potentiallyWith latent possibility
perchance · chance · likelihood · prospect · probability · eventuality · contingency · opportunity · option · alternative
uncertain
Not firmly known
- unsureLacking confidence or certainty
- unclearNot easily understood
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
indeterminate · ambiguous · vague · questionable · debatable · undecided · unresolved · inconclusive · unpredictable · unknown
hesitant
Slow to act
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
noncommittal · reluctant · fence-sitting · vacillating · dithering · equivocating · hedging · stalling · waffling · uncommitted
skeptical
Inclined to question claims
- doubtfulUncertain of truth
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
suspicious · incredulous · unconvinced · mistrustful · wary · leery · disbelieving · cynical · guarded · qualified
roughly
In approximate terms
- approximatelyClose but not exact
- aroundIn the vicinity
- aboutConcerning or approximately
somewhat · more-or-less · ballpark · estimate · circa · ish · somewhere · nearabout · thereabouts
- two-syllablesapple, baby, better, candle, chicken
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- probabilityprobability, chance, random, randomness, odds
- calendar actionsschedule, reschedule, book, cancel, confirm
- certaintycertain, sure, uncertain, unsure, definite
- chancechance, luck, lottery, dice, randomness
maybedefinitely
With complete certainty
certainly · surely · absolutely · undoubtedly · unquestionably
- maybe laterTentative deferral response
- maybe notTentative negative response
- definite maybeSelf-canceling tentative agreement
- Call Me MaybePop song requesting contact
- Definitely MaybeParadoxical affirmative uncertainty