different between almost vs maybe

English

Alternative forms

• aulmos (Jamaican English)

Etymology

From Middle English [Term?], from Old English eallm?st (“nearly all, almost, for the most part”), equivalent to all- +? most.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /???l.m??st/, (emphatic, utterance-final) /??l.?m??st/
  • (colloquial, unaccented) IPA^(key): /???(l)m?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l.mo?st/, /??l.mo?st/, /?o?.mo?st/
• Hyphenation: al?most
• Rhymes: -??st

Adverb

almost (not comparable)

1. Very close to, but not quite.

Synonyms

• (very close to, but not quite): nearly, nigh, well-nigh, near, close to, next to, practically, virtually, not yet, not

Translations

Noun

almost (plural almosts)

1. (informal) Something or someone that doesn't quite make it.

Anagrams

• Altoms, smalto, stomal

English

Alternative forms

• may-be (obsolete)
• mebbe (dialectal)

Etymology

From an ellipsis of it may be, equivalent to may +? be. Compare mayhap.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: m?'b?, IPA^(key): /?me?bi/, [?me??bi]
• Rhymes: -e?bi

Adverb

maybe (not comparable)

1. Modifies a verb, indicating a lack of certainty: it may be that...

2. (as a pro-sentence) Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
   • 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

     Okay. See you later, maybe. — Maybe I’ll see you later.

Usage notes

• Do not confuse maybe with the verb construction may be: "Maybe that's true", but "That may be true".

Synonyms

• (perhaps): mayhaps, peradventure, perhaps, possibly
• (as a pro-sentence): could be, mayhaps, might be, perhaps, possibly, that’s possible

Derived terms

• and I don't mean maybe

Translations

Adjective

maybe (comparative more maybe, superlative most maybe)

1. Possible; uncertain.
   • 1687, John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther, part III line 294

     Then add those may-be years thou hast to live

Noun

maybe (plural maybes)

1. (informal) Something that is possibly true.
2. (informal) An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.

3. (informal) A future event that may or may not happen.

Synonyms

• perhaps

Derived terms

• definite maybe

Anagrams

• Mabey, abyme, beamy, embay