Phrase guide

might and main

adv · noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adv

Meaning 1

With all one's strength; as hard as one can.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • c.1890s, Giovanni Boccaccio, James McMullen Rigg (translator), The Decameron, Novel 1, 6, [...] he strove might and main to pass himself off as a holy man [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

All one's strength.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • with might and main

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

A reduplication of two words meaning strength.