What does might mean?
Word: Might
Part of Speech: Verb, noun
Meaning: As a helping (modal) verb, might says that something may happen: It might rain. As a noun, might means great strength.
Synonyms: strength, force
Antonyms: weakness
Sounds like: mite (a very small creature related to spiders)
How do you spell might?
Syllables: might
Tricky part: The long i sound is spelt igh, and the g and h are silent. Because neither letter is heard, students often swap them (migth) or leave one out (migt).
Watch out for: migth, mihgt, migt
Memory tip: Might belongs to the igh family with light, sight and night. Write m, then the three letters i-g-h together, then t.
Idioms and Phrases
- with all your might: using all the strength you have. Example: "She pulled the rope with all her might, and her team won the tug of war."
- might is right: a saying that the strong get their way whether they are fair or not. Example: "Our captain does not believe that might is right, so every player gets a say in the plan."
Might in a sentence
Example 1: Carry an umbrella; it might pour on the way home.
Example 2: The old fort still shows the might of the kings who built it.
Example 3: I might join the chess club if it meets after school.
Fun Fact
The noun might comes from Old English miht and is closely related to the verb may, which once meant to be able or to have power.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to might as used in the sentence:
The little fishing boat was tossed about by the might of the monsoon waves.
a) power
b) warmth
c) noise
d) depth
Show answer
a) power. Here might is a noun for strength, so power is closest; the waves were strong, not just loud or deep.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
We gmhti miss the bus if we stop for another cup of tea.
a) night
b) might
c) eighth
d) thigh
Show answer
b) might. With an m and no n, the five letters can only build might; night starts with an n and thigh needs two h's.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. tounge 2. rythm 3. coloum 4. might
a) a tall upright pillar that holds up a roof
b) a regular pattern of beats in music
c) the soft part in the mouth used for tasting
d) great strength or force of any kind
Show answer
d) great strength or force of any kind. The slips are in the other three: tongue ends gue, rhythm starts rh, and column ends with a silent n.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the suffix y to form a new word. Choose it.
y
a) open
b) travel
c) fasten
d) might
Show answer
d) might. Might + y gives mighty, meaning very strong; travely, fasteny and openy are not words.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In which sentence is might a noun?
a) It might be too late.
b) He won by sheer might.
c) You might find it there.
d) He might come home today.
Show answer
b) He won by sheer might.
2. It might snow tonight means that snow is ____.
a) certain
b) already falling
c) possible
d) impossible
Show answer
c) possible
