Definition of “might” - English Dictionary

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“might” in English

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mightmodal verb

uk ​ /maɪt/ us ​ /maɪt/

might modal verb (MAY)

› past simple of the verb may, used especially when reporting what someone has said, thought, asked, etc.:

I brought him some sandwiches because I thought he might be hungry.
Very politely the little boy asked if he might have another piece of cake (= he said "May I have another piece of cake, please?").

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might modal verb (POSSIBILITY)

A2 used to express the possibility that something will happen or be done, or that something is true although not very likely:

I might come and visit you next year, if I can save enough money.
Don't go any closer - it might be dangerous/it might not be safe.
Driving so fast, he might have had a nasty accident (= it could have happened but it did not).
The rain might have stopped by now.

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Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

might modal verb (PERMISSION)

› mainly UK formal US old-fashioned used as a more polite form of may when asking for permission:

Might I ask a question?
I wonder if I might have a quick look at your newspaper?

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might modal verb (INTRODUCE)

› also may used to introduce a statement that is very different from the statement you really want to make, in order to compare the two:

The amount you save might be small, but it's still worth doing.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Grammar

Might …
Might: forms …
Might: uses …
Might: typical error …
Could, may and mightWe use could, may and might to express degrees of possibility. Many native speakers disagree on which one expresses more or less certainty. …

Idiom(s)

I might have known
might I ask/inquire/know

mightnoun [ U ]

uk ​ /maɪt/ us ​ /maɪt/

Idiom(s)

with might and main

(Definition of “might” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“might” in American English

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might

us ​ /mɑɪt/

might (MAY)

› past simple of may

mightmodal verb

us ​ /mɑɪt/ present tense might

might modal verb (POSSIBILITY)

› used to express the possibility that something will happen or be done or is true, although it may not be very likely:

We might come visit you in Atlanta in the spring.
He’s very fast and he might even finish in the top three.
The Beach Boys might well have been the most talented act to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival.

might modal verb (SUGGESTION)

› used to make a suggestion or suggest a possibility in a polite way:

I thought you might like to join me for dinner.

might modal verb (SHOULD)

› used to suggest, esp. angrily, what someone should do to be pleasant or polite:

You might at least try to look like you’re enjoying yourself!

mightnoun [ U ]

us ​ /mɑɪt/

might noun [ U ] (POWER)

› power, strength, or force:

She struggled with all her might to lift the rock.

(Definition of “might” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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might

Many of you emphasised that this crisis must not be a clash of cultures or religions and highlighted a real fear that such might be the outcome of this crisis.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
We should no more seek to control what people watch than we would seek to control what books they might wish to buy in a bookshop.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
The organisations involved in the think-tank might find it difficult to apply for assistance from the fund and yet are often the most appropriate organisations to apply.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
I shall give an example of the way in which the subject we are discussing might have been significant in my own country.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
If air traffic control services were charged based on average values it might well mean that charges would clearly rise in some areas.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
I fear that our cultures, our identities and our specific character, which has, moreover, given birth to world civilisations, might suffer the same fate.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Thirdly, might it not also be the case that advantages in terms of comparative costs will lead to the indirect promotion of atomic energy?
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
Might the reason lie in the fact that environmental policy costs money initially and does not lead to profits that are readily measurable?
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
We have to look at the details, perhaps at the milk prices for example, or in other areas, to see what else we might do.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
We are now making reasonable technical progress so that the use of detergents might constitute as small a burden on the environment as possible.
From Europarl Parallel Corpus - English
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