What does “may” mean?
- 1
modal verbused to say that something is possible but not certain
It may rain later, so take an umbrella.
- 2
modal verbused to ask for or give permission in a polite way
May I use your phone for a moment?
May at a glance
- Part of speech
- modal verb
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /meɪ/ · MAY
- Forms
- might
How to use “may” correctly
After “may” use the base verb with no “to”: “She may come,” not “She may to come.” The month “May” always has a capital letter.
Common phrases with “may”
- may I…?
- may well
- may have done sth
Synonyms, opposites and related words
“may” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- might modal verbA2used to say that something is possible, often less likely than with “may”
- must modal verbA2used to say that something is necessary or very important
- can modal verbA1to be able to do something, or to know how to do it
- could modal verbA1used as the past of “can” to talk about ability
- should modal verbA1used to give advice or say what is right
- would modal verbA1used to talk about imagined situations