might

auxiliary verb

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\ ˈmīt

Definition of might

(Entry 1 of 2)

past tense of may

1 —used to express permission, liberty, probability, or possibility in the past The president might do nothing without the board's consent.

2 —used to say that something is possible We might get there before it rains.I might go, but then again, I might not.

3 —used to express a present condition contrary to fact If you were older you might understand.

4a —used as a polite alternative to may Might I ask who is calling?

b —used as a polite alternative to ought or should You might at least apologize.I might have known she'd be late.

might

noun

Definition of might (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the power, authority, or resources wielded (as by an individual or group)

b(1) : bodily strength

(2) : the power, energy, or intensity of which one is capable ran with all her might striving with might and main

2 dialect : a great deal

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More About might

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Choose the Right Synonym for might

Noun

power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort. power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon. the awesome power of flowing water force implies the actual effective exercise of power. used enough force to push the door open energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work. a worker with boundless energy strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack. use weight training to build your strength might implies great or overwhelming power or strength. the belief that might makes right

Examples of might in a Sentence

Noun an impressive display of military might the legal might of the government

Recent Examples on the Web: Auxiliary verb Moreover, if any such objects enter the Earth’s atmosphere, they might be classified as unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), of the type mentioned in the report delivered to the U.S. Congress on June 25, 2021. — Avi Loeb, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2021 Some of that non-EV 50% will be important markets for BMW, which might even include the USA at its current slow rate of EV adoption compared to Europe and China, although Joe Biden’s green focus could change that. — James Morris, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2021 And with the proliferation of the delta variant – especially with its effect on children being recorded across the country – that requisite might become the norm, one self-imposed by restaurants rather than mandated by governments. — Marc Bona, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2021 This can serve as a loophole for those who might want to take the drug as a medical treatment for themselves without needing to disclose their purchase. — Melissa Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2021 Nashville, lacking oomph on the roster and shedding other veterans (Ryan Ellis, Viktor Arvidsson), might think about flipping the 27-year-old scorer for exciting prospects and young NHLers who have yet to peak. — BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2021 Kacey felt the pivot and the influx of new listeners might rankle someone but didn’t care. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2021 Just three days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, in what became an iconic moment, former President George W. Bush made a promise that would soon unleash U.S. military might on al Qaeda and the Taliban. — Emily D'alessandro, CBS News, 11 Sep. 2021 At the time, Shinohara, a physician in Seattle, worried that people might question whether her mom and dad had been sufficiently cautious. — Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Sep. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Aside from the apocalyptic looking hazmat suits, the parade lacked North Korea’s signature missiles, which are routinely used to boast the regime's military might. — Danielle Duclos, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2021 Thursday's state media reports on the event that began late Wednesday indicated its message was aimed at a domestic audience instead of displaying the country’s growing military might to the United States. — NBC News, 9 Sep. 2021 In the context of a violent years-long occupation of a profoundly poor country by an astoundingly rich one hell bent on guarding its wealth with military might, there can be no meaningful gender solidarity. — Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 23 Aug. 2021 For China’s leaders, the chaotic scenes unfolding in Afghanistan have served as stinging vindication of their hostility to American might. — New York Times, 18 Aug. 2021 Biden and Putin now face choices about how and when to restart a dialogue over arms control priorities, even as Biden faces pressure from Congress on China's growing military might and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. — Robert Burns, Star Tribune, 13 June 2021 Ignored in all this is whether the draft is still serving college soccer as well as a different mechanism might. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes, 30 Aug. 2021 At minimum, the taking of U.S. technology is a symbolic victory for the Taliban, which has fought for decades with simple weapons and lived under the fear of American air power and technological might. — Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2021 Lawmakers approved Democrats’ budget resolution on a party-line 50-49 vote, a crucial step for a president and party set on training the government’s fiscal might on assisting families, creating jobs and fighting climate change. — Alan Fram, ajc, 11 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'might.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.