may1/meɪ/USA pronunciationauxiliary (modal) v.[~ + root form of a verb], pres.may; pastmight; imperative, infinitive, and participles lacking.
(used to express the possibility or the chances of the occurrence of the main verb):It may rain. You may have been right. He might have been here before us. Her weight may have gone down.
(used to express the willingness of the subject to receive or grant permission or have the opportunity):You may see the doctor now. May we have a word with you? If you fail three times, you may appeal to the academic department that offered the course.
(used with another phrase or clause to express that something else follows another idea, esp. in clauses that indicate the condition, purpose, or result of something):Let's agree on this so that (as a result) we may go home early. Difficult as it may seem, I know it can be done.
(used to express a wish or prayer appearing before its subject in an unusual word order):Long may you live! May the couple always be happy and healthy. May we yet see the light of day. Long may the banner wave.
Idioms
may as well. (used to express an opinion about a reason for doing or not doing the action of the main verb):I can't stay awake, so I may as well go to bed.
may1(mā),USA pronunciationauxiliary v., pres. sing. 1st pers.may,2ndmay or (Archaic) may•est or mayst,3rdmay; pres. pl.may; pastmight.
(used to express possibility):It may rain.
(used to express opportunity or permission):You may enter.
(used to express contingency, esp. in clauses indicating condition, concession, purpose, result, etc.):I may be wrong but I think you would be wise to go. Times may change but human nature stays the same.
(used to express wish or prayer):May you live to an old age.
[Archaic.](used to express ability or power.) Cf. might1.
bef. 900; Middle English mai 1st and 3rd pers. singular present ind. of mouen, Old English mæg (infinitive magan); cognate with German mögen
See can1.
may2(mā),USA pronunciationn.[Archaic.]
a maiden.
bef. 900; Middle English mai; Old English mæg
May(mā),USA pronunciationn.
the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days.
the early part of one's life, esp. the prime:a young woman in her May.
the festivities of May Day.
British Terms(l.c.) the hawthorn.
a female given name.
v.i.
(l.c.) to gather flowers in the spring:when we were maying.
Latin, short for Maius mēnsis Maia's month
Middle English, Old English Maius bef. 1050
May(mā),USA pronunciationn.
Place NamesCape, a cape at the SE tip of New Jersey, on Delaware Bay.
to express courtesy in a question: whose child may this little girl be?
be that as it may ⇒ in spite of that: a sentence connector conceding the possible truth of a previous statement and introducing an adversative clause: be that as it may, I still think you should come
come what may ⇒ whatever happens
that's as may be ⇒ (followed by a clause introduced by but) that may be so
Etymology: Old English mæg, from magan: compare Old High German mag, Old Norse mā