# modal

/ˈmoʊdəɫ/ (US) · /mˈəʊdəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. grammar/linguistics

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

relating to words like 'can', 'must', or 'should' that show how certain or necessary something is.

For teachers: relating to the mood of a clause or the expression of modality, such as possibility, necessity, or obligation.

- In the sentence 'You must go', the word 'must' is a modal verb.
- The professor explained how modal verbs function differently from lexical verbs in English syntax, particularly regarding their lack of inflected forms.

Usage: Usually precedes a main verb in its base form without 'to'.

### 2. computing interface

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

describing a window or box on a screen that you must deal with before you can go back to the main program.

For teachers: denoting a graphical user interface element that requires user interaction before returning control to the parent application.

- A modal window appeared asking me to save my work before closing the app.
- The developer decided to use a modal dialogue for the critical error message to ensure the user acknowledged the risk of data loss.

### 3. music

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

relating to musical scales called 'modes' rather than standard major or minor keys.

For teachers: relating to or composed in the musical modes, characteristic of medieval ecclesiastical music and certain modern jazz or folk styles.

- The folk song has a modal melody that sounds different from modern pop music.
- The composition utilizes a modal framework, drawing heavily on the Dorian mode to create a sense of ancient solemnity.

### 4. a modal verb

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a helping verb like 'might', 'could', or 'will' that changes the meaning of the main verb.

For teachers: a modal auxiliary verb used to express mood or modality.

- Learners often find it tricky to use modals correctly when expressing degrees of certainty.
- The student struggled to differentiate between the various epistemic and deontic uses of English modals in formal writing.

### 5. fabric type

noun · CEFR B2

a very soft, breathable fabric often used for underwear and pajamas.

For teachers: a semi-synthetic cellulose fiber, a type of rayon, made by spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees.

- These bed sheets are made of modal, so they feel very smooth and cool.
- The garment is constructed from a blend of organic cotton and modal to enhance its softness and durability after multiple washes.

## Examples

- The word 'must' is a common modal.
- When learning English, students often find it tricky to use modals correctly in the past tense.
- The speaker used a series of modals to soften the request, shifting from a direct command to a polite inquiry about the listener's availability.

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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.