power
ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something: Everyone has the power to better themselves.
political or national strength: The Second World War changed the balance of power in Europe.
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.
pow·ers, 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: The factory recently began using looms 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.
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.
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.
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: She dressed for court in hose, heels, and a conservative power suit.The corporate-sponsored lobbyists are fueled by power breakfasts of ice-cold orange juice and croissants.
power down, Computers. to shut off.
power up, Computers. to turn on.
Idioms about power
the powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities: The decision is in the hands of the powers that be.
power behind the throne, someone or something that has a great deal of influence and control despite lacking official status: Although the chairman is ostensibly in charge, his secretary makes all the decisions and is the real power behind the throne.
Origin of power
1synonym study For power
Other words for power
Opposites for power
Other words from power
- coun·ter·pow·er, noun
- de-pow·er, verb (used with object)
- re·pow·er, verb
Words Nearby power
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-ScienceIn 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 TechnicaMuch 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 PostHe 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 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd the fact that satire unnerves the intolerant is evidence of its positive power.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTEmployees strap a device to their heads and power a helicopter drone with their minds.
What it endangers is a narrow conception of Russian power, understood through the eyes of its dictatorial leader.
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 SouthwickWharton 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 PorterHe brings out all their power, brilliancy and careering wildness, and makes the greatest sensation of them.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayShe knew that she alone of all human beings was gifted with the power to understand and fully sympathize with him.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold BennettWe 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
/ (ˈpaʊə) /
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 authority: he'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, etc: Symbol: 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 energy: nuclear 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 quantity: a 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
to give or provide power to
to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine
(intr) slang to travel with great speed or force
Origin of power
1- See also power down, power up
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
[ 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for 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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with 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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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