Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

View synonyms for power

power

noun

ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something:
Everyone has the power to better themselves.
Synonyms: capacity
Antonyms: incapacity
political or national strength:
The Second World War changed the balance of power in Europe.
Synonyms: energy
Antonyms: weakness
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.
Synonyms: sovereignty, rule, sway, ascendancy
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.
the heavenly powers.
Dialect. a large number or amount:
There's a power of good eatin' at the church social.
1. work done or energy transferred per unit of time.
  :
  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.
1. 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 a th 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.
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 )
  .
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.
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.
cars with power brakes and power windows.
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.

verb phrase

/ 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 authority
he's a power in the state
a prerogative, privilege, or liberty
1. legal authority to act, esp in a specified capacity, for another
2. the document conferring such authority
1. a military force
2. military potential
1. the value of a number or quantity raised to some exponent
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
P
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
( as modifier )
a power amplifier
the ability to perform work
1. mechanical energy as opposed to manual labour
( as modifier )
a power mower
a particular form of energy
nuclear power
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
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

verb

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

/ 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.
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.
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.

Discover More

Other Words From

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

Discover More

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 )

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of power1

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

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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.
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

Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

"We are together in solidarity in this fight, and we are building a collective power for the future, and our vision of an inclusive and hopeful future does remain strong."

There’s top players at perennial powers Cathedral and Loyola.

Fortunately, California has considerable power to counter the onslaught.

The election also marked the transformation of crypto from a fringe technology movement into Washington's newest power broker, but this swift ascension is raising questions about the future of money in American democracy.

Its many female characters — so many, good, bad and mostly in between — not only demonstrate power, but, so you don’t miss the point, talk about it.

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