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power definition

power (po̵u′ər)

noun

  1. ability to do, act, or produce
  2. a specific ability or faculty the power of hearing
  3. great ability to do, act, or affect strongly; vigor; force; strength
    1. the ability to control others; authority; sway; influence
    2. special authority assigned to or exercised by a person or group holding office
    3. legal ability or authority; also, a document giving it
  5. a source of physical or mechanical force or energy; force or energy that is at, or can be put to, work electric power, water power
  6. the rate at which work is done: abbrev. P
  7. a person or thing having great influence, force, or authority
  8. a nation, esp. one having influence or domination over other nations the great powers
  9. national might or political strength
  10. a spirit or divinity
  11. Dialectal a large number or quantity (of something specified)
    1. Archaic an armed force; army; navy
    2. military strength air power
  13. Math.
    1. the product of the multiplication of a quantity by itself 4 is the second power of 2 (2)
    2. exponent (sense )
  14. Optics the degree of magnification of a lens, microscope, telescope, etc., expressed as a ratio of the diameters of image and object

Etymology: ME pouer < OFr poeir, earlier poter, orig. inf. < VL *potere, to be able, for L posse, to be able: see potent

transitive verb

to supply with power or with a source of power

adjective

  1. operated by electricity, a fuel engine, etc. power tools, a power mower
  2. served by an auxiliary, engine-powered system that reduces the effort of the operation power steering
  3. carrying electricity power lines
  4. of, for, or signifying persons in business or politics regarded as powerful a power lunch, a power suit
power Idioms

in power

  1. in authority
  2. in office

the powers that be

the persons in control

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms power idiom

medical power definition - medical

telecom power definition - telecom

power Synonyms

power

n.

  1. Strength

    vigor, energy, stamina; see strength 1.

  2. Controlling sway

    authority, command, jurisdiction, dominion, control, sway, ascendancy, superiority, domination, dominance, mastery, leadership, predominance, preponderance, sovereignty, prerogative, hegemony, suzerainty, prestige, influence, reign, regency, omnipotence, puissance, supreme authority, the last word, rule, law, first strike capability, warrant, rule of law, law of the jungle, brute force, authorization, supremacy, legal sanction, government, absolutism, carte blanche, say-so*, clout*, clutches*; see also influence 2, leadership 1.

    Antonyms powerlessness, subservience, collapse.

  3. Ability; often plural

    skill, endowment, capability; see ability 1, 2.

  4. Force

    compulsion, coercion, duress; see pressure 2, restraint 2.

  5. Energy

    horsepower, potential, dynamism; see energy 3.

power, as compared here, denotes the inherent ability or the admitted right to rule, govern, and determine the limited power of a president; authority refers to the power, because of rank or office, to give commands, enforce obedience, and make decisions the authority of a teacher; jurisdiction refers to the power to rule or decide within certain officially defined limits the jurisdiction of the courts; dominion implies sovereign or supreme authority dominion over a dependent state; sway stresses the predominance or sweeping scope of power the Romans held sway over much of the ancient world; control implies power to direct, regulate, restrain, or curb to have no control over one's feelings; command implies such authority that enforces obedience to one's orders in command of a regiment See also syn. study at strength.

in power

ruling, authoritative, commanding; see powerful 1.

the powers that be*

the higher authorities, boss, bosses, the higher-ups*.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

power Usage Examples

Object

  • battery: Ensure that all equipment which is battery powered is charged prior to 6am.

Converse of object

  • exercise: Liberalism means a freer Britain, one in which people and communities are able to exercise real political power on their own behalf.

Adjective modifier

  • nuclear: There is no need to return to nuclear power with all its problems.

Modifies a noun

  • station: No power stations are able to operate all the time without stopping.

Noun used with modifier

  • wind: British Energy wants to produce two per cent of its electricity from wind power by 2010.

Preposition: of

  • attorney: Power of attorney or other document appointing a Hong Kong representative.
power usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

power quotes

With a nation, as with a boxer, one of the greatest assurances of safety is to add reach to power.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.Great men are almost always bad men. There is no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.

-Acton of Aldenham

In the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would remember 3 the ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could.

-Adams, Abigail

power quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"power." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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power. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/power

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