might
7 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of MIGHT
[modal verb]
1
— used to say that something is possible
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We might [=may] go if they ask us, but then again we might not.
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It might [=could] be true.
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Might it not be true?
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The test might include some questions about geography.
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There might be some difficulties ahead.
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She might get hundreds of responses to her survey.
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What you see might (well/very well) surprise you.
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I thought you might like this.
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She might have been the greatest actress of her generation. [=it's possible that she was the greatest actress of her generation]
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They might still succeed.
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I think he might be trying to cheat us.
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“Have they failed?” “They might have.” = (Brit) “They might have done.”
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If we hurry, we might get there before it rains.
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The movie might be better than you expect.
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Some people might have given up at that point, but not her.
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She's not as upset with them as might be expected.
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As you might or might not have heard, we've won!
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He might win and so might she.
2
— used to say that one thing is true but something else is also true
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He might [=may] be slow, but he does very good work. = Slow though he might be, he (still) does very good work. [=although he's slow, he does very good work]
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It might be cold outside, but it's still a nice day.
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She might have been a great actress, but she was a terrible parent.
3
— used to talk about a possible condition that does not or did not actually exist
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If you were older, you might understand.
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If she had been given a chance, she might have been a great actress.
4
formal
— used as the past tense of may
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He asked if he might [=could] leave. [=he asked, “May I leave?”]
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He gave his life so that others might [=could] live.
5
a
— used in speech to ask a question or make a request in a polite way
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Might [=may] I ask who is calling? [=who is calling?]
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“Do you think I might possibly borrow your pen?” “Of course you may!”
b
— used to make a polite suggestion
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You might [=may] want to consider leaving early.
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It might be wise to proceed cautiously.
c
— used to politely say something about someone or something
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Might I just say how pleased I am to be here.
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This has been, if I might say so, one of the happiest days of my life.
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He is her husband and, I might add, one of her biggest fans.
6
— used to say that you are annoyed by something that was or was not done
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You might [=could] at least apologize!
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If you weren't coming, you might (at least) have told me in advance!
7
— used to indicate what is or was expected
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You might [=would] think that he would be more grateful after all I've done for him.
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I might [=should] have known you wouldn't keep your promise!
8
— used in speech when asking a question about someone or something that surprises or annoys you
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“I have a request to make.” “And what might that be?” [=what is your request?]
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And who might you be? [=who are you?]
2
might
/ˈmaɪt/
noun
2
might
/ˈmaɪt/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of MIGHT
[noncount]
:
power to do something
:
force or strength
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an impressive display of military might
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the legal might of the government
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He swung the bat with all his might. [=he swung the bat as hard as he could]
might makes right
or might is right
— used to say that people who have power are able to do what they want because no one can stop them
