maybe

Etymology

From an ellipsis of Middle English it may be, equivalent to may + be. Compare mayhap.

adv

1. Modifies a verb, indicating a lack of certainty: it may be (that)...
   Maybe I was imagining it, but I could swear that the dog understood what I was saying.
2. (as a pro-sentence) Perhaps that is true (expressing no commitment to a decision or a neutral viewpoint to a statement).
   Okay. See you later, maybe. — Maybe I’ll see you later. Audio (US) (file) 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
3. (UK, meiosis) Certainly.
   Maybe not the best idea.

adj

1. Possible; uncertain.
   Then add those may-be years thou hast to live 1687, John Dryden, The Hind and the Panther, part III line 294

noun

1. (informal) Something that is possibly true.
2. (informal) An answer that shows neither agreement nor disagreement.
   The results of the poll were inconclusive. We got two yeses, three nos, and four maybes.
3. (informal) A future event that may or may not happen.
   About your raise: it's a big maybe.