might

I UK [maɪt] / US modal verb ***

Summary:

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) used for showing possibility 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.

See:

may

2) used for asking for or giving permission

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.

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.

3) spoken used for suggesting something 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.

4) spoken used when criticizing someone 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.

5) spoken used for showing a purpose 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.

6) used for saying how something seems to you 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.

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as you might expect/imagine — spoken used for showing that you do not think that something is surprising

As you might expect, this top-of-the-range model is not cheap.

As you might imagine, the Conservatives are delighted at Blair's embarrassment.

I might have known/guessed — spoken used for saying that you are not or should not be surprised at a situation

I might have known he would be late.

I might say/add — spoken used for emphasizing a new piece of information

I've had an offer – a very generous offer, I might add.

might ... but — spoken used for saying that although something is perhaps true, this does not change the main fact that you are stating

Armstrong might not be a brilliant player, but he's a good captain.

This might sound crazy, but I think someone is following me.

might (just) as well — informal used to suggest doing something because you cannot think of anything better to do; informal used for saying that it would not make any difference if you did something else

We might as well sit down while we're waiting.

You might as well enjoy your money while you've got it.

The meeting was a complete waste of time. I might just as well have stayed at home.

might not/might never have done something — used when you imagine what the situation would perhaps have been if something had not happened, although it did in fact happen

If I had not discovered Oliver's letter, I might never have known.

might (very) well/easily — spoken used for saying that something is likely to happen or is likely to be true

We might well have to wait six months before we know the answers.

The crisis might very easily lead to war.

might well ask/wonder — used for saying that it would be reasonable to ask or think something

You might well wonder why we need all these rules.

what/who/where etc might...? — spoken used for asking someone to tell you something, especially when you think they do not want to tell you

And where might you be going at this time of night?

- might have done something

See:

try I

II UK [maɪt] / US noun [uncountable]

great power or strength, especially a country's military or economic power

the full might of the Roman army

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- with all your might