Definition Synonyms
Definition of may - Reverso English Dictionary
Auxiliary verb
1.
grammarexpresses a possibility or uncertainty
- It may rain tomorrow.
2.
languageasking for or granting permission
- You may leave early today.
3.
politenessused to make polite requests or offers
- May I help you with that?
4.
prayerexpresses a wish or hope
- May you have a happy birthday!
Noun
plantUK hawthorn shrub or its white blossom that blooms in late springUK
- The may bloomed beautifully this spring.
Images of may
hawthorn shrub or its white blossom that blooms in late spring
Expressions with may
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
suggests doing something when no better choice is available
We may as well leave if the show is over.
expresses hope for a fair competition outcome
Before the race, he said, 'May the best man win.'
expresses hope for a fair competition outcome
Good luck to both teams, may the best win!
by chance or due to luck
As luck may have it, we found the lost keys.
appropriate to the circumstances or situation
The judge will decide the penalty, as the case may be.
no matter what happens
I will support you, come what may..
used to politely ask for permission to speak
If I may, I have a suggestion.
express hope that something good will last a long time
Our team is winning, long may it continue!
used to introduce surprising information
Strange as it may seem, he enjoys eating lemons.
introduces a surprising or unexpected statement
Strange as it may sound, he enjoys eating lemons.
unusual or unexpected in appearance or nature
The strange as this may seem idea surprised everyone.
the future is uncertain, act now
She decided to travel the world because tomorrow may never come.
make every effort yet still fail to change the result
Try as one may, some problems cannot be solved quickly.
introduces a surprising or hard-to-believe statement
Unbelievable as it may sound, he won the lottery twice.
in any situation or event
He was determined to succeed whatever may come.
used to say a question is very reasonable or difficult
You may well ask why he left so suddenly!
individual experiences or results may vary
This method worked for me, but your mileage may differ.
individual experiences may be different
The movie was great for me, but your mileage may vary.
nevertheless
The weather is bad; be that as it may, we will go hiking.
shows you accept something but want to continue anyway
Be this as it may, we must still finish the project.
wish for exciting life
She smiled and said, 'May you live in interesting times,' as a farewell.
connects clauses showing outcome is unchanged by circumstances
We will proceed, whichever the case may be.
express possibility of possessing or experiencing
She may have the answer to your question.
polite question offering assistance and inviting someone to explain their need
"Hello, customer support, how may I help you today?"
Origin of may
Old English, mæg (to be able)
Terms with may included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
potential
that may exist or happen
expectation
something expected has not happened but may happen soon
threat
person or thing that may cause harm
omen
indication that something negative may happen
surprising truth
this may be surprising but it's true
current situation
true right now but may change soon
time
not happened up to now but may happen soon
furniture
shelf on which articles may be laid
reading service
place or organization where people may borrow written works for a while
golden chance
rare opportunity that may not come again
behavior
physically harsh treatment of a person or object that may cause harm
public safety
official notice that dangerous conditions may arrive soon
body powder
fine powder for skin, absorbs moisture, may be scented
outcome
have results that may bring success or may bring failure
doubtful
not fully trusted or may not be genuine
recommendation
suggest not doing something because it may be bad
proverb saying
people may use any method to win romance or conflict
uneasy feeling
nervous about what may happen, expecting trouble
warning advice
warn that desired outcomes may bring unexpected problems
work relationship
person known through work who may help with deals or opportunities
diplomatic office
building where a consul works and may live
intention
intended to help but may seem excessive
dangerous people
be obtained by people who may use it harmfully
symptom
harsh dry cough that is loud and may cause pain
Examples of may in a sentence
The project may be delayed due to weather. May I borrow your pen for a moment? You may use my car while I'm away. May I take your coat? May we join you for lunch? May peace return to the region.
May your journey be safe and pleasant. The scent of may filled the garden. She picked a sprig of may for the vase.
View all translations of may
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:pouvoir, aubépine, ...
- German:könnte, Weißdorn, ...
- Italian:potrebbe, biancospino, ...
- Spanish:puede, espino, ...
- Portuguese:pode, espinheiro, ...
- Chinese:可能, 山楂, ...
- Japanese:かもしれません, サンザシの花, ...
- Arabic:قَدْ, زَعْرُور, ...
- Hebrew:יִיתָכֵן שֶׁ, עֲזוֹבִית הַגַּדֵּר, ...
- Russian:может, боярышник, ...
- Ukrainian:може, глід, ...
- Hindi:सकता है, मई का फूल, ...
Definition of May - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
calendarfifth month of the year with 31 days
- May is my favorite month of the year.
2.
girl forenamefemale given name often short for Mary
- May received a beautiful gift for her birthday.
3.
spring festivalRare UK celebration of spring in European traditionsRare UK
- They danced around the maypole during May..
4.
family lineRare surname of English originRare
- The famous author was named John May.
Expressions with May
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
rain in April helps flowers bloom in May
April showers bring May blossoms in our garden.
difficult times lead to better days
Remember, April showers bring May flowers, so stay hopeful during tough times.
the middle part of May
We planned the garden party for mid-May to enjoy the spring weather..
city on New Jersey's southern coast known for Victorian houses
Cape May hosts an annual jazz festival.
May 1st celebrated as a holiday for workers
Many countries celebrate First of May as Labor Day.
advice to sell stocks in May
Many investors follow the 'sell in May, then go away' strategy.
international distress signal used in emergencies
The pilot sent a Mayday after engine failure.
seasonal investment strategy
The 'sell in May and go away' approach is debated among financial experts.
punch with Moselle, sugar, and woodruff
The party served a delightful May wine punch.
rain in April leads to flowers blooming in May
April rain brings May flowers, so don't worry about the rain.
the month of May characterized by festivities
Many weddings take place in the merry month of May.
girl chosen to lead May Day celebrations
She was crowned the queen of the May at the festival..
Origin of May
Latin, Maius (month of Maia)
Examples of May in a sentence
May brings warmer weather and longer days. May was thrilled to see her friends. Everyone admired May's dedication to her work. The village celebrated May with flowers and music. May brought joy and festivities to the town. The May family has a long history.
She discovered her ancestors were Mays.
View all translations of May
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:mai, May, ...
- German:Mai, May, ...
- Italian:Maggio, May, ...
- Spanish:Mayo, May, ...
- Portuguese:Maio, May, ...
- Chinese:五月, 梅, ...
- Japanese:5月, メイ, ...
- Arabic:مَاي, مِي, ...
- Hebrew:מַאי, מֵיי, ...
- Russian:Май, Мэй, ...
- Ukrainian:Травень, Мей, ...
- Hindi:मई, मे, ...
icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.
icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.
icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the