May
modal verb
A way to ask for permission.
May I borrow your book?
Usage tips
Formal
modal verb
A way to express possibility or probability.
It may rain later.
modal verb
A way to express a wish or hope.
May your dreams come true.
Usage tips
Approving
noun
The fifth month of the year.
My birthday is in May.
verb
A way to express possibility in the past.
He may have called while you were out.
noun
A type of tree with white or pink flowers.
The may tree is blooming beautifully.
modal verb
Used to describe something that is likely.
The report may have been misinterpreted.
modal verb
Used to express formal permission.
Visitors may use the restroom at the end of the hall.
Usage tips
Formal
proper noun
A feminine given name.
Her name is May.
modal verb
A way to ask for permission.
May I borrow your book?
Usage tips
Formal
modal verb
A way to express possibility or probability.
It may rain later.
modal verb
A way to express a wish or hope.
May your dreams come true.
Usage tips
Approving
noun
The fifth month of the year.
My birthday is in May.
verb
A way to express possibility in the past.
He may have called while you were out.
noun
A type of tree with white or pink flowers.
The may tree is blooming beautifully.
modal verb
Used to describe something that is likely.
The report may have been misinterpreted.
modal verb
Used to express formal permission.
Visitors may use the restroom at the end of the hall.
Usage tips
Formal
proper noun
A feminine given name.
Her name is May.
Definition 1 of 9
Pro Tip 1/2Polite Questions
Use 'may' for polite requests, especially in formal situations.
May I take a seat here?
Pro Tip 2/2Often Formal
'May I' is more formal than 'Can I', good for respectful interactions.
May I speak to Dr. Smith, please?
Pro Tip 1/2Polite Questions
Use 'may' for polite requests, especially in formal situations.
May I take a seat here?
Pro Tip 2/2Often Formal
'May I' is more formal than 'Can I', good for respectful interactions.
May I speak to Dr. Smith, please?
Pro Tip 1/2Polite Questions
Use 'may' for polite requests, especially in formal situations.
May I take a seat here?
Pro Tip 2/2Often Formal
'May I' is more formal than 'Can I', good for respectful interactions.
May I speak to Dr. Smith, please?
Never forget "May"
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Video examples
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Video examples
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who learn a secondary language by filtering it through their primary language. Because all types of bilingual people can become fully proficient in a language regardless of accent or pronunciation, the difference may not be apparent to a casual observer. But recent advances in brain imaging technology
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I found through my work, wherever I go there is always a guide, it might not an official guide but it’s always a guide that can translate and introduce, and allow you to feel the landscape so, so your job here is really important. It is. In my family there's four generations who have all guided,
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The Infinite Hotel...
the scenarios faced by the ever-diligent and maybe too hospitable night manager serve to remind us of just how hard it is for our relatively finite minds to grasp a concept as large as infinity. Maybe you can help tackle these problems after a good night's sleep. But honestly, we might need you
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is also very helpful. Other promising treatments, like transcranial magnetic stimulation, are being investigated, too. So, if you know someone struggling with depression, encourage them, gently, to seek out some of these options. You might even offer to help with specific tasks,
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but the other is the essential, important act of expressing guilt and remorse for hurting his wife. But the truth is that I have noticed that quite a lot of people who have affairs may feel terribly guilty for hurting their partner,
Video examples
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Either answer, in its own way, is awe-inspiring, because even if we are alone, the fact that we think and dream and ask these questions might yet turn out to be one of the most important facts about the universe.
Video examples
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but these tadpoles are not as helpless as they might appear
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Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
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It is by not always thinking of yourself, if you can manage it, that you might somehow be happy. Until you make room in your life for someone as important to you as yourself, you will always be searching and lost.
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John Lennon
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Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
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American Clergyman
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Marie Curie
Polish Scientist
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Langston Hughes
American Poet
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
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Oscar Wilde
Irish Poet
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George Harrison
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Viktor E. Frankl
Austrian Psychologist
Fear may come true that which one is afraid of.
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Aristotle
Greek Philosopher
We make war that we may live in peace.
Quote examples
Richard Bach
American Novelist
It is by not always thinking of yourself, if you can manage it, that you might somehow be happy. Until you make room in your life for someone as important to you as yourself, you will always be searching and lost.
Quote examples
John Lennon
English Musician
Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one.
Quote examples
Joel Osteen
American Clergyman
You may never get to that perfect world that you're waiting for where everything's going to be perfect and you got that much money and your house paid off.
Quote examples
Marie Curie
Polish Scientist
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
Quote examples
Langston Hughes
American Poet
An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.
Quote examples
Oscar Wilde
Irish Poet
There are many things that we would throw away if we were not afraid that others might pick them up.
Quote examples
Frederick Douglass
American Author
People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get.
Quote examples
George Harrison
British Musician
When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there.
Quote examples
Viktor E. Frankl
Austrian Psychologist
Fear may come true that which one is afraid of.
Quote examples
Aristotle
Greek Philosopher
We make war that we may live in peace.
Example 1 of 10
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