What does almighty mean?
"Almighty" means possessing complete, unlimited power — a quality attributed above all to God. As an adjective it appears constantly in scripture, hymns, and prayer, where it conveys awe at divine omnipotence; capitalized as a noun, "the Almighty" serves as a title for God himself across Jewish and Christian tradition. Beyond religion, the word has a lively informal life: because "almighty" suggests overwhelming magnitude, English speakers reach for it whenever something happens on an enormous scale — an almighty crash, an almighty argument, an almighty effort. This dual character makes the word unusually versatile, moving between the sacred and the everyday without losing force. Its long history stretches back to Old English translations of the Bible, where it rendered the Hebrew and Greek descriptions of an all-powerful deity. Whether evoking reverence or sheer drama, "almighty" remains one of English's most resonant words for power beyond measure.
Having absolute power; all-powerful; also, extremely great in force, size, or intensity.
"An almighty thunderstorm rolled in from the west."
The theological sense is formal and reverent; the intensifier sense is colloquial.
God, especially when referred to by the title "the Almighty."
"She gave thanks to the Almighty for her recovery."
Always used with the definite article and typically capitalized.
The phrase "the almighty dollar" — coined by Washington Irving in 1837 — turned this ancient word for God into shorthand for the power of money itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of almighty
"Almighty" descends from Old English "ealmihtig," formed from the prefix "ealle" (all) plus "mihtig" (mighty, powerful), translating Latin "omnipotens" in early biblical texts. It thus shares its Germanic root with the native word "might." The related phrase "the almighty dollar" was popularized by Washington Irving in the 1830s, extending the word's association with power into the economic sphere.
Related word forms
How almighty is actually used
In religious contexts "almighty" carries solemn, reverent weight; in everyday speech it functions as an intensifier for dramatic events (an almighty row, an almighty mess). The capitalized noun form "the Almighty" is standard in both Jewish and Christian usage.
Easily confused with almighty
"Omnipotent" is a precise theological term meaning unlimited in power, while "almighty" is the broader, more traditional English word often used of God and also applied informally to anything overwhelmingly large or forceful.