Might

/maɪt/ modal verb

Definition

Might is used to say that something is possible but not certain, like ‘It might rain tomorrow.’ It expresses a weaker possibility than ‘will.’

Etymology

From Old English ‘meahte’ or ‘mihte,’ a past form of ‘may,’ originally linked to ideas of power and ability. Over time, it shifted from meaning ‘was able to’ toward expressing possibility.

Kelly Says

‘Might’ is a fossil of an older word about power: if you had might, you had strength. Now it mostly lives on as a polite, softer way of saying something could happen—like a verbal dimmer switch on certainty.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.