Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- auxiliary verb Used to indicate a condition or state contrary to fact.
- auxiliary verb Used to indicate a possibility or probability that is weaker than may:
- auxiliary verb Used to express possibility or probability or permission in the past.
- auxiliary verb Used to express a higher degree of deference or politeness than may, ought, or should:
- noun Great power or force, as of a nation or army.
- noun Physical strength: synonym: strength.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The quality of being able; ability to do or act; power; active personal force or strength, physical or mental: as, a man of might; the might of intellect.
- noun Power of control or compulsion; ability to wield or direct force; commanding strength: as, the might of empire.
- noun Physical force; material energy.
- noun Preterit of
may .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of purpose, feeling, or action; means or resources to effect an object; strength; force; power; ability; capacity.
- noun See under 2d
Main . - imp. of
may .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb auxiliary Used to indicate
conditional orpossible actions . - verb auxiliary Simple past of
may . Used to indicatepermission in past tense. - verb auxiliary Simple past of
may . Used to indicatepossibility in past tense. - noun uncountable
Power ,strength ,force orinfluence held by aperson orgroup . - noun uncountable
Physical strength. - noun uncountable The
ability to do something. - adjective obsolete
Mighty ;powerful ;possible .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun physical strength
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word might.
Examples
-
I kind of agree with this, except dogs might *might* be an exception.
You think because a chimpanzee knows you, he doesn't hate you? Ann Althouse 2009
-
I might - *might* - consider not buying the manga I'd never heard of before but looks oh-so interesting if I knew any of these were coming out that week:
Manga Before Flowers – Procrastination Poll! | Comics Should Be Good! @ Comic Book Resources 2008
-
For instance, I can think of one way the Republicans might, just *might*, retain control of both houses: if they impeach and convict Bush and Cheney themselves, before the next election.
-
I wrote about what might–and I emphasize the word *might*–be an indication that some small steps have actually been taken in my Blog-Against-Sexism-Day post.
-
Arizona because it suddenly occurred to me that the police might -- just * might* -- come and take away my computer.
The Hacker Crackdown Sterling, Bruce 1992
-
All at once the thought struck him that he himself might be the person accused, and the bare idea that such _might_ be the case sent the blood to his heart and a cold shudder through his frame.
Eveline Mandeville The Horse Thief Rival Alvin Addison
-
It might go wrong with you -- only _might_ -- but I want, I must have, your consent.
-
With reasonable care the thing might be done almost with impunity -- though there was never wanting, of course, the not entirely unpleasurable excitement of knowing that you were breaking the law, that somebody _might_ have turned informer, and that at any moment a raid might be made.
Stories of the Border Marches Jeanie Lang
-
It might rain tomorrow, and 'sides, it _might_ take us more'n
At the Little Brown House Ruth Alberta Brown
-
If a woman might not do this, what, in heaven's name, _might_ she do?
The Daughters of Danaus Mona Caird
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.