might

¹ American  

[mahyt] / maɪt /

auxiliary verb

1. simple past tense of may.

2. (used to express possibility).

   They might be at the station.

3. (used to express advisability).

   You might at least thank me.

4. (used in polite requests for permission).

   Might I speak to you for a moment?

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might ² American  

[mahyt] / maɪt /

noun

1. physical strength.

   He swung with all his might.

   Antonyms:

   weakness

2. superior power or strength; force.

   the theory that might makes right.

   Antonyms:

   weakness

3. power or ability to do or accomplish; capacity.

   the might of the ballot box.

   Antonyms:

   weakness

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idioms

1. with might and main, with all the vigor, force, or energy at one's command.

   They pulled with might and main.

might ¹ British  

/ maɪt /

noun

1. power, force, or vigour, esp of a great or supreme kind

2. physical strength

3. See main 1

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might ² British  

/ maɪt /

verb

1. making the past tense or subjunctive mood of may 1

   he might have come last night

2. (often foll by well) expressing theoretical possibility: he might well come . In this sense might looks to the future and functions as a weak form of may See may 1

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Usage

What’s 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 left—let me check.Traditionally, might is considered a weaker form of may—meaning 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 sense—they usually mean just about the same thing.May and might can also both be used in the context of permission, often as what’s thought to be a more polite substitute for can, as in May/Might I use your restroom? In responses to such questions, it’s usually may that’s 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 that’s sarcastic or that introduces a condition, usually one that’s 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 it’s 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).Here’s an example of might and may used correctly in a sentence.Example: We might have been able to go today if it hadn’t 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.

Related Words

See strength.

Other Word Forms

• mightless adjective

Etymology

Origin of might

First recorded before 900; Middle English myghte, Old English miht, meaht; cognate with German macht, Gothic mahts; akin to may ¹

Example Sentences

My clothes might have looked a bit on the masculine side, what with having to take my brother’s best traveling coat for the long journey to Chicago.

From Literature

Earlier research proposed that the oxygen atoms might arrange themselves into one of two simple cubic patterns.

From Science Daily

There has been a suggestion that England might impose a midnight curfew on players, but Broad suggested that might be excessive.

From BBC

"To the uninformed American listener, the ongoing talks between Denmark and Greenland might have been construed as if Greenland's secession from Denmark was imminent," said Greenland specialist Mikaela Engell.

From Barron's

Economists have said that, as a result, the November inflation number that was released a month ago might have been artificially low.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• efficacy
• potency
• valor