might've
Possibly did once
Might've is the contracted form of "might have," indicating possibility in past events: I might've left my phone at the restaurant.
It often expresses uncertainty about what occurred or speculation about alternatives: Things might've turned out differently.
The contraction is standard in speech and informal writing.
Past possibility contraction
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- should'vePast obligation unfulfilled
- may'veContraction for perhaps had
- potentialLatent capacity for development
chance · opportunity · prospect · likelihood · probability · feasibility · option · alternative
Past obligation unfulfilled
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- hindsightRecognition after the fact
- missedFailed to reach
- lostUnable to navigate
wasted · squandered · overlooked · neglected · forgotten · failed · bungled · botched
Past possibility contraction
- should'vePast obligation unfulfilled
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- must'veContraction indicating past necessity
- may'veContraction for perhaps had
hadn't · wasn't · weren't · hasn't · haven't · didn't · couldn't · wouldn't
Guess from limited facts
- suppositionBelief without proof
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
- hypotheticalAssumed but unproven
what-if · scenario · counterfactual · suppose · imagine · inference · assumption · presumption
Lacking confidence or certainty
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- questionableOf uncertain validity
- dubiousOf uncertain reliability
unclear · vague · hesitation · doubt · skeptical · unconvinced · unconfirmed · hedging
could've
Past possibility contraction
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- should'vePast obligation unfulfilled
- may'veContraction for perhaps had
potential · chance · opportunity · prospect · likelihood · probability · feasibility · option · alternative · outcome
should've
Past obligation unfulfilled
lost · wasted · squandered · overlooked · neglected · forgotten · failed · bungled · botched · ruined
could've
Past possibility contraction
- should'vePast obligation unfulfilled
- would'veContracted conditional auxiliary
- must'veContraction indicating past necessity
may've · hadn't · wasn't · weren't · hasn't · haven't · didn't · couldn't · wouldn't · shouldn't
conjecture
Guess from limited facts
- suppositionBelief without proof
- guessworkConclusions drawn without proof
- theorizingForming unproven explanations
hypothetical · what-if · scenario · counterfactual · suppose · imagine · inference · assumption · presumption · postulation
unsure
Lacking confidence or certainty
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- iffyUncertain, questionable
- questionableOf uncertain validity
dubious · unclear · vague · hesitation · doubt · skeptical · unconvinced · unconfirmed · hedging · qualifying