perhaps
Could be true
Perhaps expresses possibility or uncertainty—something may or may not be true or happen.
Perhaps she's already left.
It can soften statements or requests: Perhaps you could help me with this.
Perhaps also introduces rough estimates: Perhaps a dozen people showed up.
The word is slightly more formal than maybe.
Expression of uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- conceivablyWithin imagination's reach
- potentiallyWith latent possibility
- perchanceArchaic word for maybe
mayhap · presumably · supposedly · ostensibly · doubtfully · questionably · uncertainly · tentatively
Likelihood of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
- potentialLatent capacity for development
contingency · eventuality · feasibility · plausibility · conceivability · opportunity · opening · hope
Guess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
- surmiseGuess from incomplete information
assumption · presumption · inference · postulation · theorizing · speculation · estimation · reckoning
Idea proposed for consideration
- invitationRequest to attend
- offerProposal to provide
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- requestFormal act of seeking
entreaty · softener · courtesy · tact · indirection · deference · modesty · humility
Word or phrase limiting meaning
- caveatWarning or qualification
- disclaimerStatement denying responsibility
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- provisoConditional clause in contracts
condition · stipulation · mitigation · softening · equivocation · noncommittal · evasion · circumlocution
maybe
Expression of uncertainty
- possiblyWith some likelihood
- conceivablyWithin imagination's reach
- potentiallyWith latent possibility
perchance · mayhap · presumably · supposedly · ostensibly · doubtfully · questionably · uncertainly · tentatively · hesitantly
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- likelihoodChance something will occur
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- prospectPotential client or opportunity
potential · contingency · eventuality · feasibility · plausibility · conceivability · opportunity · opening · hope · promise
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- suppositionBelief without proof
- hypothesisTestable proposed explanation
surmise · assumption · presumption · inference · postulation · theorizing · speculation · estimation · reckoning · hunch
suggestion
Idea proposed for consideration
- invitationRequest to attend
- offerProposal to provide
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
request · entreaty · softener · courtesy · tact · indirection · deference · modesty · humility · understatement
qualifier
Word or phrase limiting meaning
- caveatWarning or qualification
- disclaimerStatement denying responsibility
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
proviso · condition · stipulation · mitigation · softening · equivocation · noncommittal · evasion · circumlocution · vagueness
- adverbsquickly, slowly, very, really, now
- certaintycertain, sure, uncertain, unsure, definite
- possibilitiespossibility, chance, likelihood, probability, odds
- Possibilitymaybe, possibly, could, might, may
- suggestion phraseshow about, why not, consider this, what if, worth considering
- uncertaintyuncertainty, uncertain, unknown, unsure, unclear
perhapsdefinitely
With complete certainty
certainly · absolutely · surely · inevitably · undoubtedly
happy, happen, happiness, hazard, mishap, haphazard, hapless, happenstance, haphazardly