Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
You use ~ to express uncertainty, for example when you do not know that something is definitely true, or when you are mentioning something that may possibly happen in the future in the way you describe.
Maybe she is in love...
I do think about having children, ~ when I’m 40...
= perhaps
ADV: ADV with cl/group vagueness
2.
You use ~ when you are making suggestions or giving advice. Maybe is also used to introduce polite requests.
Maybe we can go to the movies or something...
Wait a while, ~ a few days.
= perhaps
ADV: ADV with cl/group politeness
3.
You use ~ to indicate that, although a comment is partly true, there is also another point of view that should be considered.
Maybe there is jealousy, but I think the envy is more powerful...
= perhaps
ADV: ADV cl
4.
You can say ~ as a response to a question or remark, when you do not want to agree or disagree.
‘Is she coming back?’—‘Maybe. No one hears from her.’
= perhaps
ADV: ADV as reply
5.
You use ~ when you are making a rough guess at a number, quantity, or value, rather than stating it exactly.
The men were ~ a hundred feet away and coming closer.
= about
ADV: ADV amount vagueness
6.
People use ~ to mean ‘sometimes’, particularly in a series of general statements about what someone does, or about something that regularly happens.
They’ll come to the bar for a year, or ~ even two, then they’ll find another favourite spot.
ADV: ADV with cl/group