I would like to know how to use them. Are they alike, or just two different words that can be used in the same way?
Learn English – What’s the difference between ‘perhaps’ and ‘maybe’
differencesmeaningsynonyms
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Best Answer
There is, in fact, no commonly visible (as visible as words can be!) difference. Look at these circular definitions:
As you can see, they can all be used in the same way. However, there's a bit of a semantic and informal difference. Maybe is usually used informally, and it is derived from "it may be". It is more often used as a definite (as definite as maybe can be!) answer to a question. Example: "Can I do this?" "Maybe."
Perhaps is more formal, and is most often used to express uncertainty about an outcome or undertaking, and is more often used in response to a possibility (spoken by a second or third person) rather than a request. "Might this work?" "Perhaps."
Possibly is usually used in tandem with a possibility you yourself have said, rather than a possibility someone else has mentioned. Example: "My test could possibly fail."
TL;DR: They mean basically the same thing! You can use them interchangeably, but some work better than others in different situations.