# mightily

/ˈmaɪtəɫi/ (US) · /mˈaɪtɪli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mightily
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. with great strength

adverb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to do something with a lot of physical power or effort.

For teachers: in a powerful or vigorous manner; with great physical force.

- The workers struggled mightily to move the heavy stone up the hill.
- The sailors laboured mightily against the rising tide, desperate to secure the vessel before the storm reached its peak.

Usage: Often used to describe physical struggle or heroic effort.

### 2. very much

adverb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Humorous

used to emphasize that a feeling or quality is very strong.

For teachers: to a great degree or extent; used as an intensifier for verbs of feeling or adjectives.

- I was mightily impressed by how well the young girl played the piano.
- The board was mightily relieved to discover that the projected losses were far lower than the initial audit suggested.

Usage: Commonly collocates with 'impressed', 'relieved', or 'offended'.

Teaching tip: In modern conversation, this is often used with a touch of irony or exaggeration.

## Examples

- The storm blew mightily against the windows.
- The two teams played mightily for the championship, showing incredible skill and determination throughout the final match.
- The old engine groaned mightily as it struggled to pull the heavy train up the steep incline, its pistons hissing with the effort of the climb.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.