Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
might-have-been
phrase
/maɪt ˈhæv bɪn/
Definition
A term referring to a situation or outcome that was possible in the past but did not occur.
Examples
- If only I had taken that job offer; it could have been the start of a great career. That’s a classic example of a might-have-been.
- She often reflects on her might-have-beens and wonders how her life might have turned out differently.
- The movie explores the might-have-been of characters who made different choices in their lives.
Meaning
Might-have-been expresses a sense of missed opportunities or alternative scenarios that could have happened.
Synonyms
- potential outcome
- missed opportunity
- unrealized possibility
