Almighty means having complete and unlimited power. When something is almighty, it possesses strength or authority so great that nothing can stand against it.

The word appears most often in religious contexts. Christians, Jews, and Muslims all refer to God as “the Almighty,” meaning a being with infinite power who created everything and can do anything. This connects to why people say “Almighty God” in prayers and hymns.

Outside religion, people use almighty more casually to emphasize something's extreme power or importance. Someone frustrated with money problems might complain about “the almighty dollar,” suggesting that money controls too much in society. A coach might talk about the almighty effort needed to win a championship, meaning an overwhelming, maximum effort.

You'll sometimes hear the word in the phrase “an almighty crash” or “an almighty bang,” where it simply means enormous or tremendous. If your stack of books falls with an almighty crash, it makes a spectacularly loud noise.

Notice that almighty suggests power beyond ordinary limits. A strong person has power, but almighty suggests power without boundaries or restrictions. It's the difference between being really good at something and being absolutely unstoppable.