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.

The dam - also known as the Motuo Hydropower Station - is located on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, which flows through the Tibetan plateau.

From BBC • Aug. 21, 2025

Hydropower, which constitutes 20% of average energy generation in the West, will decline in response to these conditions.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

In 2021, a glacial outburst killed more than 140 workers at one such project, the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower Plant.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 15, 2023

Hydropower from the Pacific Northwest has been especially valuable for California, helping the state keep the lights on after dark.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 26, 2023

Hydropower exports to India had a major impact on growth in 2007.

From The 2008 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