Dictionary

might as well en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /maɪzˈwɛl/
• (Australia) audio
• /maɪt æzˈwɛl/

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Used to express somewhat reluctant assent, saying that if one situation exists (or because it does exist), another event or situation that would otherwise be undesirable, difficult, impossible, etc., becomes more feasible or reasonable, or would not make a difference.
   • Oh, and while you're here would you like me to look at your fanny? And the girl, says, Yeah, sure, might as well, and off they go. 2004, Melvin Burgess, Doing It:
   • Razors pain you; / Rivers are damp; / Acids stain you; / And drugs cause cramp. / Guns aren’t lawful; / Nooses give; / Gas smells awful; / You might as well live. 1926, Dorothy Parker, “Résumé,”, in Enough Rope:
   • Macarons are very difficult to make, so you might as well make plentiful if you do decide to make any.
   • You arrived too early, but since you're here, you might as well come in.
2. (idiomatic) Used to liken one situation to another, typically saying that the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme, situation.
   • Mr. A. Wheeler, and Mr. William Tebb, who, though all were examined and cross-examined on the minutest details, might as well never have appeared so far as any notice in the Final Report is concerned. 1898, Alfred Russel Wallace, Vaccination a Delusion:
   • We asked Miss Maudie to elucidate: she said Miss Stephanie seemed to know so much about the case she might as well be called on to testify. 1960 July 11, Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Philadelphia, Pa.; New York, N.Y.: J[oshua] B[allinger] Lippincott Company, →OCLC:
   • Her words trapped him in the bedroom; he might as well have been hanging on the Chairman's torture wall getting his guts ripped out. 2006, L.A. Bank, The Forsaken:
   • "If she makes as much work after she comes as she has before, we might as well give up hope of ever gettin' any rest," sighed Miranda as she hung the dish towels on the barberry bushes at the side door. 1903, Kate Douglas Wiggin, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm:
   • You're going to tell her what I said about her? You might as well shoot me!
   • What a waste of time this has been. We might as well have stayed at home.
   • As far as I'm concerned each day's a rainy day So it might as well rain until September 1962, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, It Might as Well Rain Until September:
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see might, as well.
   • I want to go, and he might as well.

Forms

Relateds

while one is at it

Synonyms

as well · may as well

Translations (14)

es para eso (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es mejor ser (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one) · es bien poder (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es valer más (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one) · es valer más (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es dar igual (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one) · es mejor ser (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es dar igual (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es dar lo mismo (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one) · es dar lo mismo (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es valer mejor (if one situation exists, another undesirable​/​difficult one becomes more feasible or reasonable) · es valer mejor (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one) · es para eso (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one) · es bien poder (the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme one)