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might

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modal verb British English pronunciation: might /maɪt/
Might is usually followed by an infinitive without ‘to’: I might change my mind. Sometimes might is used without a following infinitive: I don’t think we’ll need any more help, but we might.
Might does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s’: She might be late.
Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do’: Might I make a suggestion? ♦ Your plan might not work. The negative short form mightn’t can also be used.
Might has no participles and no infinitive form.
There is no past tense but might have, followed by a past participle, is used for talking about past possibilities: The explosion might have been caused by a gas leak.
When indirect speech is introduced by a verb in the past tense, might can be used as the past tense of may: She said that she might go and stay with her mother.
There is no future tense, but might is used for talking about future possibilities: It might rain tomorrow.
 
  1. 1
    used for saying that there is a possibility that something is true, or that something will happen, especially when it is not very likely

    You never know what might happen in the future.

    I was afraid that someone might recognize me.

    Did you say anything that might have upset her?

    might just (=used when something is difficult or unlikely but possible):

    We might just get there in time if we hurry.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might
    See also  may
  2. 2
    used for asking for or giving permission
    1. a.
      spoken used for very politely asking permission to do something

      Might I ask the president a question?

      I wonder if I might use your telephone.

      John asked if he might accompany me, and I agreed.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might
    2. b.
      formal if someone said in the past that you might do something, they gave you permission to do it

      Mr Binks had said that we might borrow his pickup truck.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might
  3. 3
    spoken used for making a suggestion

    You might like to see what we’ve done to the garden.

    I thought we might have a walk round the town.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might
  4. 4
    spoken used for showing that you are annoyed with someone because they have not done something that they should do

    He might have warned me he was going to be late.

    In future you might try to be a little more polite.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might
  5. 5
    spoken used for saying that someone did something in order to achieve a particular purpose

    I refused an invitation so that I might spend Sunday with you.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might
  6. 6
    used for talking about the way in which someone remembers or thinks of a situation

    I remember that day so clearly, it might have been yesterday.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  mightThesaurus entry for this meaning of might

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This is the British English definition of might. View American English definition of might.

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