power

[ pou-er ]

noun

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

   Everyone has the power to better themselves.

   Synonyms: capacity

   Antonyms: incapacity

2. political or national strength:

   The Second World War changed the balance of power in Europe.

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

   Synonyms: energy

   Antonyms: weakness

4. the possession of control or command over people; authority; influence:

   Words have tremendous power over our minds.

5. political ascendancy or control in the government of a country, state, etc.:

   They attained power by overthrowing the legal government.

   Synonyms: sovereignty, rule, sway, ascendancy

6. legal ability, capacity, or authority:

   the legislative powers vested in Congress.

7. delegated authority; authority granted to a person or persons in a particular office or capacity:

   a delegate with power to mediate disputes.

8. a document or written statement conferring legal authority.
9. a person or thing that possesses or exercises authority or influence.
10. a state or nation having international authority or influence:

    The great powers held an international conference.

11. a military or naval force:

    The Spanish Armada was a mighty power.

12. Often pow·ers. a deity; divinity:

    the heavenly powers.

13. pow·ers, Theology. an order of angels. Compare angel ( def 1 ).
14. Dialect. a large number or amount:

    There's a power of good eatin' at the church social.

15. Physics.
    1. work done or energy transferred per unit of time. : P
    2. the time rate of doing work.
16. mechanical energy as distinguished from hand labor:

    The factory recently began using looms driven by power.

17. a particular form of mechanical or physical energy:

    hydroelectric power.

18. energy, force, or momentum:

    The door slammed shut, seemingly under its own power.

19. Mathematics.
    1. the product obtained by multiplying a quantity by itself one or more times:

       The third power of 2 is 8.

    2. (of a number x ) a number whose logarithm is a times the logarithm of x (and is called the a th power of x ). Symbolically, y = xa is a number that satisfies the equation log y = a log x.
    3. the exponent of an expression, as a in xa.
    4. cardinal number ( def 2 ).
20. Optics.
    1. 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 ).
    2. the reciprocal of the focal length of a lens.

verb (used with object)

1. to supply with electricity or other means of power:

   Atomic energy powers the new submarines.

2. to give power to; make powerful:

   An outstanding quarterback powered the team in its upset victory.

3. to inspire; spur; sustain:

   A strong faith in divine goodness powers his life.

4. (of a fuel, engine, or any source able to do work) to supply force to operate (a machine):

   An electric motor powers this drill.

5. to drive or push by applying power:

   She powered the car expertly up the winding mountain road.

adjective

1. operated or driven by a motor or electricity:

   a power mower;

   power tools.

2. power-assisted:

   cars with power brakes and power windows.

3. conducting electricity:

   a power cable.

4. 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.

verb phrase

1. Computers. to shut off.
2. Computers. to turn on.

power

/ ˈpaʊə /

noun

1. ability or capacity to do something
2. often plural a specific ability, capacity, or faculty
3. political, financial, social, etc, force or influence
4. control or dominion or a position of control, dominion, or authority
5. a state or other political entity with political, industrial, or military strength
6. a person who exercises control, influence, or authority

   he's a power in the state

7. a prerogative, privilege, or liberty
8. 1. legal authority to act, esp in a specified capacity, for another
   2. the document conferring such authority
9. 1. a military force
   2. military potential
10. maths
    1. the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
    2. another name for exponent
11. 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
12. 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 P
13. 1. 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
    2. ( as modifier )

       a power amplifier

14. the ability to perform work
15. 1. mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
    2. ( as modifier )

       a power mower

16. a particular form of energy

    nuclear power

17. 1. 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
    2. another word for magnification
18. informal.
    a large amount or quantity

    a power of good

19. plural the sixth of the nine orders into which the angels are traditionally divided in medieval angelology
20. in one's power
    often foll by an infinitive able or allowed (to)
21. in someone's power
    under the control or sway of someone
22. the powers that be
    the established authority or administration

verb

1. to give or provide power to
2. to fit (a machine) with a motor or engine
3. slang.
   intr to travel with great speed or force

power

/ pou′ər /

1. The source of energy used to operate a machine or other system.
2. 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.
3. Compare energy
4. 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 10 ⁶, equals one million.
5. 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.

Other Words From

• coun·ter·pow·er noun
• de-pow·er verb (used with object)
• re·pow·er verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of power¹

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 Vulgar Latin potēre (unrecorded), replacing Latin posse “to be able, have power”; potent ¹( def ), puissant ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of power¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. 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.

2. the powers that be, those in supreme command; the authorities:

   The decision is in the hands of the powers that be.

More idioms and phrases containing power

• corridors of power
• more power to someone
• staying power

Synonym Study

See strength.

Example Sentences

Ofwat has new powers to prevent bonuses being funded from customer bills if the company is judged to have missed environmental or performance targets.

From BBC

Though she shows promise in the field of sorcery from a young age, the color of Elphaba’s skin ensures that she stays a pariah barred from studying her powers.

From Salon

Expected to be one of the strongest storms in the northwest US in decades, the bomb cyclone knocked out power and downed trees across the region, on November 20, 2024.

From Salon

Her absence, coupled with Republican majorities, could allow conservative lawmakers to advance their priorities more aggressively, as well as reshaping the balance of power in future farm policy negotiations.

From Salon

Sir Gavin said the number of people crossing the English Channel since Labour had come to power was 19% up on the same period last year.

From BBC

Related Words

• authority
• clout
• influence
• jurisdiction
• law
• leadership
• management
• prestige
• privilege
• right
• rule
• sovereignty
• strength
• weight