Meaning & use
May
Last updated
used to express possibility, or to grant or request permission
See it in a sentence
It may rain later this afternoon, so bring an umbrella.
You may leave the room once you have finished the test.
A note on using this word
A modal verb that does not change form for tense or subject; its past-tense counterpart is 'might.'
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
must not
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “May”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.