may as well

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

may as well (third-person singular simple present may as well, no present participle, simple past might as well, no past participle)

1. (idiomatic) Used to express reluctance, to express that if one hypothetical or possible action happened, it would not make any notable difference
   • 1965, Donovan, Catch the Wind:

     For me to love you now
     Would be the sweetest thing
     'Twould make me sing
     Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind

   • 1945, Roger S. Vreeland, The Mad Dancers:

     They continued their inspection in silence, but at last the Doctor shrugged and said they may as well go back.

Synonyms

• might as well

Derived terms

• one may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb

 

Translations

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