Definition of “may” - English Dictionary

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“may” in English

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maymodal verb

uk ​ /meɪ/ us ​ /meɪ/

may modal verb (POSSIBILITY)

A2 used to express possibility:

There may be other problems that we don't know about.
I may see you tomorrow before I leave.
The cause of the accident may never be discovered.
The explosion may have been caused by a faulty electrical connection.
We'd better not interfere - she may not like it.
There may be some evidence to suggest she's guilty, but it's hardly conclusive.
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might modal verb

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may modal verb (PERMISSION)

B1 formal used to ask or give permission:

A reader may borrow up to six books at any one time.
"May I help myself to some more food?" "Yes, of course."
Hi, my name's Tiffany. How may I help you?
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might modal verb

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Grammar

Can, could or may: typical errors …
May …
May: forms …
May: uses …
Maybe or may be?We use maybe and may be to talk about possibility. They are often confused because we use them both when we think that something is possible but we are not certain. …
Maybe as an adverbMaybe /ˈmeɪbi/ is an adverb and it means the same as perhaps. It is written as one word: …
May beIn the phrase may be /meɪ bi:/ may is a modal verb and be is a main or auxiliary verb. Here may and be are two separate words, whereas maybe is one word: …

Idiom(s)

be that as it may
may I ask
may well

maynoun [ U ]

uk ​ /meɪ/ us ​ /meɪ/ also may blossom

Maynoun [ C or U ]

uk ​ /meɪ/ us ​ /meɪ/

A1 the fifth month of the year, after April and before June:

My mother's birthday is in May.
They got married on 12 May.
We're supposed to be moving into new offices next May.

More examples

  • We went to Crete last May.
  • His birthday is in May.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

(Definition of “may” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“may” in American English

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maymodal verb

us ​ /meɪ/ present tense may, past tense might /mɑɪt/

may modal verb (POSSIBILITY)

› used to express possibility:

She said she may decide to accept the job offer and may not.

may modal verb (PERMISSION)

› used to ask or give permission:

May I use your telephone?

may modal verb (SUGGESTION)

› used to make a suggestion or suggest a possibility in a polite way:

You may want to have a bite to eat before you leave.

Idiom(s)

someone may as well do something

Maynoun [ C/U ]

us ​ /meɪ/

› the fifth month of the year, after April and before June

(Definition of “may” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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