may

/meɪ/

express possibility or permission

You may leave early if you finish your work.

This sentence expresses permission.

formalinformal

To express possibility or permission

It may rain tomorrow.

This expresses a possibility.

May I borrow your pen?

This expresses a polite request for permission.

Often used in formal requests or to indicate uncertainty.

formal

To be allowed to do something

Students may use calculators during the exam.

This indicates permission for students.

Common in official instructions or rules.

Collocations

may becould bemay notis not allowed to

to do something because it is the best option

'May' is more formal than 'might' or 'could' when expressing possibility. Use 'may' in formal writing or requests.

'May' can express both permission and possibility. Context determines the meaning.

From Old English 'mæg', meaning 'to be able to' or 'to have permission'.

Often used in formal or polite contexts. 'May' is more formal than 'might' or 'could' when expressing possibility.

English Dictionary