hydropower

American

[hahy-druh-pou-er] / ˈhaɪ drəˌpaʊ ər /

noun

hydroelectric power.

hydropower British

/ ˈhaɪdrəʊˌpaʊə /

noun

hydroelectric power

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hydropower

First recorded in 1930–35; hydro- ¹ + power

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead the company relies on hydropower at its processing plant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

Yarbrough said the primary benefit of the Pastoria solar project isn’t monetary savings but rather decarbonization, as climate change fueled by fossil fuel emissions is already creating more unpredictability for California’s hydropower.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

The Colorado River and its network of tributaries supply water to seven U.S. states and Mexico, supporting drinking water, farming, and hydropower.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

Wind, solar and hydropower generated more than a third of China's electricity in 2024.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

A proposed investment to finish the hydropower dams Rogun and Sangtuda would substantially add to electricity production.

From The 2006 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023