From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmightmight1 /maɪt/ ●●● S1 W1 modal verb (negative short form mightn’t) 1 MAYBEpossibility a) if something might happen or might be true, there is a possibility that it may happen or may be true, but you are not at all certain I might be a few minutes late. She might not want to come with us. He might have missed the train. This might well be her last public performance (=it is fairly likely). One of the guards might easily panic and shoot someone (=it is likely). b) used as the past tense of ‘may’ when reporting that someone talked or thought about the possibility of something He might be able to help you. I thought they might have gone home. She was worried that we might get hurt. c) used to say that something was a possibility in the past but did not actually happen It was terrifying. We might have been killed.2 ADVISEsuggesting used to suggest politely what someone should do If you need more information, you might try the Internet. I thought we might go to the new Chinese restaurant on the High Street. It might be a good idea to put those plants in the shade. We’re going to a concert. You might like to come with us.3 asking permission a) spoken especially British English used to politely ask for permission to do something Might I borrow your pen? I wonder if I might speak to your son. b) used when reporting that someone asked for permission to do something He asked if he might come in and look around.4 CANsomebody should have done something used when you are annoyed because someone has not done something that you think they should do You might at least say thank you. They might have cleaned up before they left.5 past purpose used after ‘so that’ or ‘in order that’ to say that someone did something in order to make something else happen or be possible I asked for names and addresses so that I might pass on details to the police. 6 → might I say/ask/add etc7 → I might say/add8 → I might have known/guessed etc9 → might (just) as well10 BUTalthough used to say that even though something is perhaps true, something different or opposite is also true He might be nearly seventeen but he’s still very immature. Surprising as it might seem, some tourists actually enjoy the British weather. Although she might understand his beliefs, she could not accept them. Try as I might (=although I tried hard), I couldn’t work out the answer.11 ASK A QUESTIONformal question used to ask a question in a formal and rather unfriendly way And who might you be, young man?12 → might well
Examples from the Corpus
might• But you might also want to be bumped.• In this way we catch a glimpse of what might be called the hermeneutical communion of saints.• Democracy might be expected to collapse under such pressure.• I wanted to tell him I might be the only one besides himself who would be voting for it.• She said she might call you tomorrow.• With the extra free time, they might do more volunteer work, Jerome said.• If Hawaii is too expensive, we might go to Florida.• Sewers and wells might halt the disease, but cost much more.• He might have been outside.• This might help the pain a little bit.• For reasons such as these, the property sector is increasingly concerned that these regulations might hold back major developments.• Might I come in?• Carrie might not be able to go.• I thought it might rain, so I brought an umbrella.• This isn't as difficult as you might think.• You might try calling the store.• Samuel left his children a letter, so that they might understand why he had to go away.might easily• Or at least in wood, which I might easily argue is one and the same.• And it might easily be at the expense of tone if it was.• Even with money and will, a uranium-enrichment programme takes time to build, and might easily be detected by others.• At first light somebody suggested that a stick of wood might easily follow the same course as the boat.• Although it was unwise to do anything about depressions, ignorance and popular passion might easily force some action.• They might easily have bought it.• That young so-and-so might easily have got his Betty into trouble, if he had not caught them in time.mightmight2 ●○○ noun [uncountable] 1 POWERgreat strength and power two individuals who took on the might of the English legal system He swung the axe again with all his might.2 → might is rightExamples from the Corpus
might• The Foundation is the source of power and might.• The full might of the army could not defeat them.• Think of the might of a forest fire or the burning heat of the sun.• The might of water overwhelmed dark earth, over the summits of the highest mountains.with all ... might• He struck again with all his might.• You bring the log down with all your might.• He barked viciously; lunging with all his might as the car slowed down and seemed about to stop.• She prayed with all her might but there was no response.• Leaning forward into the harness and pushing with all my might, I could not move.• The strongest were put at the oars and they rowed with all their might down the river to the sea.• A fierce gale, huge waves, and a drenching rain bear down upon the frail whaling ship with all their might.• Something else hit me and now, convinced that death was calling, I wailed with all my might.Origin might1 Old English meahte, mihte might2 Old English miht 