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power

[ pou-er ]

/ ˈpaʊ ər /

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See synonyms for: power / powered / powering / powers on Thesaurus.com

noun

ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.

political or national strength: the balance of power in Europe.

great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force.

the possession of control or command over people; authority; influence: Words have tremendous power over our minds.

political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc.: They attained power by overthrowing the legal government.

legal ability, capacity, or authority: the legislative powers vested in Congress.

delegated authority; authority granted to a person or persons in a particular office or capacity: a delegate with power to mediate disputes.

a document or written statement conferring legal authority.

a person or thing that possesses or exercises authority or influence.

a state or nation having international authority or influence: The great powers held an international conference.

a military or naval force: The Spanish Armada was a mighty power.

Often powers . a deity; divinity: the heavenly powers.

powers, Theology. an order of angels.Compare angel (def. 1).

Dialect. a large number or amount: There's a power of good eatin' at the church social.

Physics.

work done or energy transferred per unit of time. Symbol: P
the time rate of doing work.

mechanical energy as distinguished from hand labor: a loom driven by power.

a particular form of mechanical or physical energy: hydroelectric power.

energy, force, or momentum: The door slammed shut, seemingly under its own power.

Mathematics.

the product obtained by multiplying a quantity by itself one or more times: The third power of 2 is 8.
(of a number x) a number whose logarithm is a times the logarithm of x (and is called the ath power of x). Symbolically, y =xa is a number that satisfies the equation log y = a log x.
the exponent of an expression, as a in xa.
cardinal number (def. 2).

Optics.

the magnifying capacity of a microscope, telescope, etc., expressed as the ratio of the diameter of the image to the diameter of the object.Compare magnification (def. 2).
the reciprocal of the focal length of a lens.

verb (used with object)

to supply with electricity or other means of power: Atomic energy powers the new submarines.

to give power to; make powerful: An outstanding quarterback powered the team in its upset victory.

to inspire; spur; sustain: A strong faith in divine goodness powers his life.

(of a fuel, engine, or any source able to do work) to supply force to operate (a machine): An electric motor powers this drill.

to drive or push by applying power: She powered the car expertly up the winding mountain road.

adjective

operated or driven by a motor or electricity: a power mower;power tools.

power-assisted: cars with power brakes and power windows.

conducting electricity: a power cable.

Informal. expressing or exerting power, especially in business; involving or characteristic of those having authority or influence, as in power lunch;power couple;power suit.

Verb Phrases

power down, Computers. to shut off.

power up, Computers. to turn on.

OTHER WORDS FOR power

1 capacity.

3 energy.

5 ascendancy; sway, rule, sovereignty.

See synonyms for power on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR power

1 incapacity.

3 weakness.

See antonyms for power on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about power

the powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities: The decision is in the hands of the powers that be.

Origin of power

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English poair(e), poer(e), poeir, power, from Anglo-French, Old French po(u)eir, poer, poor, noun use of infinitive poe(i)r, pooir “to be able,” from assumed Vulgar Latin potēre, replacing Latin posse “to be able, have power”; see potent¹

synonym study for power

3. See strength.

OTHER WORDS FROM power

coun·ter·pow·er, nounde-pow·er, verb (used with object)re·pow·er, verb

Words nearby power

powder snow, powdery, powdery mildew, Powell, Powell, Colin, power, power amplifier, power assist, power-assisted, PowerBar, power base

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use power in a sentence

Even though they will often get the job done, you’re still leaving a lot of power and performance on the table.
Six ways to make your ATV even more rugged|By Tyler Freel/Outdoor Life|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
In total, there are five drive units, each of which integrates the power electronics as well as the electric motors.
This is GM’s new series of Ultium Drive electric motors|Jonathan M. Gitlin|September 17, 2020|Ars Technica
Much of that growth is being powered by online sales, and a lot of the advertising promoting those products has been concentrated in affiliate spending.
‘An educational stance’: Publishers mull CBD’s alluring – and complex – commerce opportunities|Max Willens|September 17, 2020|Digiday
“I’m sorry, but one man should never have that type of power,” Young said.
Courts may reconsider temporary coronavirus restrictions as pandemic drags on|Anne Gearan, Karin Brulliard|September 16, 2020|Washington Post

He said three times that Biden “never did it” or “didn’t do it,” as if the former vice president had some actual power to enact it right now.
Trump’s increasingly overt effort to pretend Biden is actually president|Aaron Blake|September 16, 2020|Washington Post
From this attitude he draws a singular comic and literary power.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And the fact that satire unnerves the intolerant is evidence of its positive power.
Why We Stand With Charlie Hebdo—And You Should Too|John Avlon|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Would the Democrats rescind those rights if they were to return to power?
The Black Man Who Replaced Jefferson Davis in the Senate|Philip Dray|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Employees strap a device to their heads and power a helicopter drone with their minds.
Use Your Brain—Control a Drone|The Daily Beast Video|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What it endangers is a narrow conception of Russian power, understood through the eyes of its dictatorial leader.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For this use of the voice in the special service of will-power, or propelling force, it is necessary first to test its freedom.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Wharton smiled at this littleness in so great a man, but determined that he should feel the power he despised.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
He brings out all their power, brilliancy and careering wildness, and makes the greatest sensation of them.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
She knew that she alone of all human beings was gifted with the power to understand and fully sympathize with him.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
We live in an age that is at best about a century and a half old—the age of machinery and power.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock

British Dictionary definitions for power

power

/ (ˈpaʊə) /

noun

ability or capacity to do something

(often plural) a specific ability, capacity, or faculty

political, financial, social, etc, force or influence

control or dominion or a position of control, dominion, or authority

a state or other political entity with political, industrial, or military strength

a person who exercises control, influence, or authorityhe's a power in the state

a prerogative, privilege, or liberty

legal authority to act, esp in a specified capacity, for another
the document conferring such authority

a military force
military potential

maths

the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
another name for exponent (def. 4)

statistics the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a test when it is false. The power of a test of a given null depends on the particular alternative hypothesis against which it is tested

physics engineering a measure of the rate of doing work expressed as the work done per unit time. It is measured in watts, horsepower, etcSymbol: P

the rate at which electrical energy is fed into or taken from a device or system. It is expressed, in a direct-current circuit, as the product of current and voltage and, in an alternating-current circuit, as the product of the effective values of the current and voltage and the cosine of the phase angle between them. It is measured in watts
(as modifier)a power amplifier

the ability to perform work

mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
(as modifier)a power mower

a particular form of energynuclear power

a measure of the ability of a lens or optical system to magnify an object, equal to the reciprocal of the focal length. It is measured in dioptres
another word for magnification

informal a large amount or quantitya power of good

(plural) the sixth of the nine orders into which the angels are traditionally divided in medieval angelology

in one's power (often foll by an infinitive) able or allowed (to)

in someone's power under the control or sway of someone

the powers that be the established authority or administration

verb (tr)

to give or provide power to

to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine

(intr) slang to travel with great speed or force

Word Origin for power

C13: from Anglo-Norman poer, from Vulgar Latin potēre (unattested), from Latin posse to be able

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

Scientific definitions for power

power

[ pou′ər ]

The source of energy used to operate a machine or other system.

The rate at which work is done, or energy expended, per unit time. Power is usually measured in watts (especially for electrical power) or horsepower (especially for mechanical power). For a path conducting electrical current, such as a component in an electric circuit, P = VI, where P is the power dissipated along the path, V is the voltage across the path, and I is the current through the path. Compare energy work.

Mathematics The number of times a number or expression is multiplied by itself, as shown by an exponent. Thus ten to the sixth power, or 106, equals one million.

A number that represents the magnification of an optical instrument, such as a microscope or telescope. A 500-power microscope can magnify an image to 500 times its original size.

Cultural definitions for power

power

In physics, the amount of energy put out or produced in a given amount of time. Power is often measured in watts or kilowatts.

In mathematics, a power is a number multiplied by itself the number of times signified by an exponent placed to the right and above it. Thus, 32, which means 3 × 3, is a power — the second power of three, or three squared, or nine. The expression 106, or ten to the sixth power, means 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10, or one million.

Other Idioms and Phrases with power

power

In addition to the idioms beginning with power

power behind the throne
powers that be, the

also see:

corridors of power
more power to someone
staying power

power

OTHER WORDS FOR power

OPPOSITES FOR power

Idioms about power

Origin of power

synonym study for power

OTHER WORDS FROM power

Words nearby power

Words related to power

How to use power in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for power

Word Origin for power

Scientific definitions for power

Cultural definitions for power

Other Idioms and Phrases with power