Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [mey]
- /meɪ/
- /meɪ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [mey]
- /meɪ/
Definitions of may word
- noun may the fifth month of the year, containing 31 days. 1
- noun may the early part of one's life, especially the prime: a young woman in her May. 1
- noun may the festivities of May Day. 1
- noun may (lowercase) British. the hawthorn. 1
- noun may a female given name. 1
- noun may Cape, a cape at the SE tip of New Jersey, on Delaware Bay. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of may
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English mai 1st and 3rd person singular present indicative of mouen, Old English mæg (infinitive magan); cognate with German mögen
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for May
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
may popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
may usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for may
verb may
- can — You use can when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something which people may make use of if they want to.
- can do — marked by purposefulness and efficiency: a can-do executive.
- will — Wallace, 1875–1959, U.S. journalist and humorist.
- shall — used to make a suggestion
- should — in conditional clause
Antonyms for may
noun may
- dismay — to break down the courage of completely, as by sudden danger or trouble; dishearten thoroughly; daunt: The surprise attack dismayed the enemy.
Top questions with may
- to whom it may concern?
- what dreams may come?
- to whom it may concern letter?
- uncovered lightbulbs may expose food to which type of hazard?
- come what may?
- when i have fears that i may cease to be?
- what dreams may come movie?
- who may file form i 765?
- oceans where feet may fail?
- what is may day?
- who may file form i-765?
- come what may lyrics?
- to whom it may concern cover letter?
- what is dead may never die?
- how many days until may 21 2016?