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might
1[ mahyt ]
auxiliary verb
- simple past tense of may 1.
- (used to express possibility):
They might be at the station.
- (used to express advisability):
You might at least thank me.
- (used in polite requests for permission):
Might I speak to you for a moment?
might
2[ mahyt ]
noun
- physical strength:
He swung with all his might.
Antonyms:
- superior power or strength; force:
the theory that might makes right.
Antonyms:
- power or ability to do or accomplish; capacity:
the might of the ballot box.
Antonyms:
might
2/ ³¾²¹ÉŖ³Ł /
noun
- power, force, or vigour, esp of a great or supreme kind
- physical strength
- (with) might and mainSee main 1
Usage
Other 51³Ō¹Ļ Forms
- ³¾¾±²µ³ó³Łīl±š²õ²õ adjective
51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins
51³Ō¹Ļ History and Origins
Origin of might1
Origin of might2
Idioms and Phrases
- with might and main, with all the vigor, force, or energy at one's command:
They pulled with might and main.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
"There's always a risk as an opener, that people might be completely uninterested, but this has been the complete opposite," she says.
I found that with good hustling skills a Banksied homeowner might see their bank balance expanded, but it's not an easy process.
The US has unrivalled military and technological might, which helps.
Winning the Champions League might prove a step too far but, going by their current results in Europe, nobody will fancy playing Emery's men in the latter stages of the competition.
It might change how you think about condiments altogether.
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Related 51³Ō¹Ļs
Might Vs. May
Whatās the difference between might and may?
Might and may can both be used as auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) that express possibility, as in We may/might have some leftālet me check.
Traditionally, might is considered a weaker form of mayāmeaning that it expresses a lower degree of possibility that something will happen. Some people might intend to use the two words this way, but in practical terms they are often interchangeable when used in this senseāthey usually mean just about the same thing.
May and might can also both be used in the context of permission, often as whatās thought to be a more polite substitute for can, as in May/Might I use your restroom? In responses to such questions, itās usually may thatās used, as in Yes, you may. Saying might in such responses is often meant to make fun of such a use of the word in a way thatās sarcastic or that introduces a condition, usually one thatās not serious, as in Yes, you might, if you knew the password.
May is sometimes used to express a wish, as in May you have success.
Might is sometimes used to express advisability, as in You might ask before you barge in, you know.
In its auxiliary verb sense, might can also be used as the past tense of may. It may seem strange to express possibility in the past tense (now that it is known whether or not something happened), but there are plenty of cases in which it makes sense to do it, such as when itās still uncertain whether or not something could have happened, as in He might have had a chance to become CEO, but he decided to retire early or She might have come if you had actually invited her. Of course, the word may can also be used in the same way to indicate past tense (She may have come if you had actually invited her).
Hereās an example of might and may used correctly in a sentence.
Example: We might have been able to go today if it hadnāt rained, but in any case we may try to go again tomorrow.
Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between might and may.
Quiz yourself on might vs. may!
Should may or might be used in the following sentence?
_____ you have a long and happy life!
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American HeritageĀ® Idioms Dictionary copyright Ā© 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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