past tense of may
Synonyms
Examples of might in a Sentence
Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
Early corporate behavior and statements from executives suggest that companies might be accepting the 1% tax as a cost of doing business, not changing their buyback practices.
—Richard Rubin, WSJ, 7 Feb. 2023
Urban living or access to green space rather than air pollution might be driving changes in mental health, Hayes said.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2023
The last few days might have helped the recruiting pitch, too.
—Tim Reynolds, Sun Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2023
Larry Bird had a rivalry that brought them both multiple championships and might have saved the NBA in the 1980′s.
—Tim Reynolds, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2023
Several theories from neuroscience and psychology can point to why some people might be particularly primed to enjoy gambling.
—Fortune, 6 Feb. 2023
The state’s forfeiture law allows police to seize money, property, and other assets that might be linked to a crime.
—Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Feb. 2023
Yeoh’s co-star, Ke Huy Quan, is the overwhelming favorite to win the supporting actor Oscar, and some might think that’s sufficient reward for the film.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2023
Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
China unleashed the full might of its solar energy industry last year, installing more solar panels than the United States has in its history.
—Amy Chang Chien, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024
In their rivalry for global supremacy, the U.S. and China both flex their hard power, in the form of military might.
—Courtney Fingar, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
After delays and cost overruns, the new bridge was welcomed as yet more proof of the city’s ambition, its engineering prowess and its economic might.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Bentley All Bentley had to do to take its financial might to the next level was to really lean into its luxury status.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2024
Our own species, with all its brainy might, didn’t discover the cause of eclipses until well into the modern era.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
And British merchant banks in the City, as London’s financial district is known, seemed dwarfed by the burgeoning financial might of Wall Street, building pressure for new approaches.
—Alan Cowell, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024
Strip away this vast alliance, and its diplomatic and economic might, and the US looks quite lonely on the world stage.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'might.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Auxiliary verb
Middle English, from Old English meahte, mihte; akin to Old High German mahta, mohta could
Noun
Middle English, from Old English miht; akin to Old High German maht might, magan to be able — more at may entry 1
Auxiliary Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing might
Dictionary Entries Near might
Cite this Entry
“Might.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/might. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
might
2 of 2 nounOld English meahte, mihte (an auxiliary verb)
Noun
Old English miht "power, might"
More from Merriam-Webster on might
Nglish: Translation of might for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of might for Arabic Speakers
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