might Meaning & Definition
What Does Might Mean?
Might is a noun that means Power, strength, force, or influence held by a person or group. It can also mean Physical strength or force. As an adjective, it means Mighty; powerful. As a verb, it means simple past of may.
Might: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, adjective, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /maɪt/ |
| Synonyms | power, could and mightiness |
| Plural | mights |
| Comparative / superlative | mighter, mightest |
Might Definition (Noun)
- Power, strength, force, or influence held by a person or group.
- Physical strength or force.
He pushed with all his might, but still it would not move.
- The ability to do something.
Might as an Adjective
- Mighty; powerful.
- Possible.
Might as a Verb
- simple past of may
He asked me if he might go to the party, but I haven't decided yet.
- Used to indicate a desired past action that was not done.
You might have warned me about the thunderstorm.
- Used to indicate conditional or possible actions; would perhaps/maybe.
Well, I might go to the party on Sunday, but I haven't decided yet.
- Used concessively to admit something before making a more accurate or important statement; although
I might be in a wheelchair, but I still want to be treated as a lady.
- Used in polite requests for permission.
"Might I take the last biscuit? I wonder if I might have a little more coffee too." "Yes you may, help yourself.".
- Used to express certainty.
Yeah, I think we might need something a bit sturdier.
Verb
- To be strong; to have power (over).
- (auxiliary) To be able; can.
- To be able to go.
- (modal auxiliary verb, defective) To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests.
you may smoke outside; may I sit there?
- (modal auxiliary verb, defective) Expressing a present possibility; possibly.
he may be lying; Schrödinger's cat may or may not be in the box
- (subjunctive present, defective) Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect).
may you win; may the weather be sunny
- Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark.
Verb
- (auxiliary) Used to indicate conditional or possible actions.
I might go to the party, but I haven't decided yet.
- (auxiliary) Even though.
I might be in a wheelchair, but I still want to be treated as a lady.
- (auxiliary) Used in polite requests for permission
Might I take the last biscuit?
Synonyms of Might
Might synonyms and antonyms →Might in a Sentence
He pushed with all his might, but still it would not move.
He asked me if he might go to the party, but I haven't decided yet.
I thought that I might go the next day.
In those days, a Briton might be hanged for stealing an egg
You might have warned me about the thunderstorm.
Well, I might go to the party on Sunday, but I haven't decided yet.
Might the negotiations finish today, do you think?
I might be in a wheelchair, but I still want to be treated as a lady.
"Might I take the last biscuit? I wonder if I might have a little more coffee too." "Yes you may, help yourself.".
Yeah, I think we might need something a bit sturdier.
you may smoke outside; may I sit there?
he may be lying; Schrödinger's cat may or may not be in the box
may you win; may the weather be sunny
I might go to the party, but I haven't decided yet.
Hey man, you might have warned me about the thunderstorm.
Might I take the last biscuit?
Word Forms & Grammar
might (countable and uncountable, plural mights)
might (comparative mighter, superlative mightest)
might (third-person singular simple present might, no present participle, simple past might, no past participle)
Words That Rhyme With Might
Origin of Might
Origin 1: From Middle English maught, might, miȝt, myght, from Old English maht, meaht, meht, mieht, miht, mæht (“ability, power; strength; virtue”), from Proto-West Germanic *mahti, from Proto-Germanic *mahtiz (“ability, power; force, strength”), from Proto-Indo-European *(me)mógʰe (“to be able to, to have power”), from *megʰ- (“to be able”), corresponding to Germanic *maganą (“to be able, may”) + *-þiz. Equivalent to may + -th.
Origin 2: From Old English meahte and mihte, inflections of magan, whence English may.
Common Questions About Might
Is might a noun or an adjective?
Might is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective and a verb.
What is another word for might?
You can replace might with words such as power, could and mightiness. See the full list of might synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of might?
The plural of might is mights.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of might?
The comparative form is mighter and the superlative form is mightest.