modal
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to words like 'can', 'must', or 'should' that show how certain or necessary something is.
adj.relating to the mood of a clause or the expression of modality, such as possibility, necessity, or obligation.
Simple“In the sentence 'You must go', the word 'must' is a modal verb.”
In context“The professor explained how modal verbs function differently from lexical verbs in English syntax, particularly regarding their lack of inflected forms.”
UsageUsually precedes a main verb in its base form without 'to'.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
adj.describing a window or box on a screen that you must deal with before you can go back to the main program.
adj.denoting a graphical user interface element that requires user interaction before returning control to the parent application.
Simple“A modal window appeared asking me to save my work before closing the app.”
In context“The developer decided to use a modal dialogue for the critical error message to ensure the user acknowledged the risk of data loss.”
SynonymsblockinginterruptiveAntonymsmodeless - 03 C2 Proficiency
adj.relating to musical scales called 'modes' rather than standard major or minor keys.
adj.relating to or composed in the musical modes, characteristic of medieval ecclesiastical music and certain modern jazz or folk styles.
Simple“The folk song has a modal melody that sounds different from modern pop music.”
In context“The composition utilizes a modal framework, drawing heavily on the Dorian mode to create a sense of ancient solemnity.”
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a helping verb like 'might', 'could', or 'will' that changes the meaning of the main verb.
n.a modal auxiliary verb used to express mood or modality.
Simple“Learners often find it tricky to use modals correctly when expressing degrees of certainty.”
In context“The student struggled to differentiate between the various epistemic and deontic uses of English modals in formal writing.”
Synonymsmodal auxiliary - 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very soft, breathable fabric often used for underwear and pajamas.
n.a semi-synthetic cellulose fiber, a type of rayon, made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees.
Simple“These bed sheets are made of modal, so they feel very smooth and cool.”
In context“The garment is constructed from a blend of organic cotton and modal to enhance its softness and durability after multiple washes.”
Synonymsrayonviscose
From Middle French modal, from Medieval Latin modālis (“pertaining to a mode”), from Latin modus (“mode”). Compare to French, Spanish, and Portuguese modal and Italian modale. By surface analysis, mod(e) + -al.
A genericized trademark of Lenzing AG.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.