Macmillan Dictionary

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

might

 - definition
 
 
 
Close

What are red words?

90% of the time, speakers of English use just 7,500 words in speech and writing. These words appear in red, and are graded with stars. One-star words are frequent, two-star words are more frequent, and three-star words are the most frequent.

Close

Thesaurus

The thesaurus of synonyms and related words is fully integrated into the dictionary entries. Click on the T button in an entry to review the synonyms and related words for that meaning.

more
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.
 
Other entries for this word
  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 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 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 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 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 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 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 might

phrases

See also

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

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for might.

 

cyberloafing

using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

BuzzWord Article

Word of the Day

higgledy-piggledy

mixed together in a way that is not planned, organized, or tidy

Open Dictionary

show a bit of ankle

… to reveal a small part of your intentions in order to attract support, without actually committing yourself to doing anything

add a word

Blog

A must for anyone with an interest in the changing face of language. The Macmillan Dictionary blog explores English as it is spoken around the world today.

global English and language change from our blog