26984 words

power

37 definitions • 76 examples
1
ability to control people and events:

Examples:

power over I've no power over him - he does what he wants to.
in something's power Once nicotine has you in its power, it's very difficult to stop smoking.
She has the power to charm any man she meets.
2
the amount of political control a person or group has in a country:

Examples:

Does the president have more power than the prime minister?
in power How long has the Conservative Party been in power?
seize power The army seized power after five days of anti-government demonstrations.
3

Examples:

Our car doesn't have enough power to tow a trailer.
Weightlifters have tremendous power in their arms and legs.
Scientists are working to harness the power of the atom.
The economic power of many Asian countries has grown dramatically in recent years.
4
an official or legal right to do something:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] I'd like to help but I don't have the power to intervene in this dispute.
in your power to do something It's not in your power to cancel the order.
within your power I can't give you a refund - I'm afraid it's not within my power.
5

Examples:

beyond someone's powers You were acting beyond your powers when you agreed to give her a pay rise.
6

Examples:

You should disconnect the power before attempting to repair electrical equipment.
Our building lost power (= the electricity was stopped) during the storm.
power cable/line Thousands of people are without electricity after the storms blew down power cables/lines.
7

Examples:

My mental powers aren't as good as they used to be.
8
a natural skill or an ability to do something:

Examples:

power of He was so shocked by what happened to his parents that he lost the power of speech.
We humans believe that we are the only animals to have the power of reason.
[ + to infinitive ] The surgeon did everything in her power to save him.
Environmentalists are doing everything within their power to minimize the impact of the oil spill.
Solving this problem has taken all my brain power.
9
a person, organization, or country that has control over others, often because of wealth, importance, or great military strength:

Examples:

military power Spain was an important military power in the 16th century.
world power Germany is on its way to becoming a world power with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
power in the She is an increasingly important power in the company.
10
the rate at which energy is used, or the ability to produce energy:

Examples:

The ship was only slightly damaged in the collision and was able to sail into port under its own power.
power rating The power rating of my amplifier is 40 watts per channel.
11
the amount by which an image is increased by a device used for seeing things that are very small or a long distance away:

Examples:

What's the magnification power of your binoculars?
You'll need a very high-power microscope to see something as small as that.
A low-power telescope is enough if you only want to look at the moon.
12
the number of times that a number is to be multiplied by itself:

Examples:

to the third, fourth, etc. power 2 to the fourth power is 2 times 2 times 2 times 2, which equals 16.
to the power 3 to the power 4 is usually written as 34.
14
to act with great strength or in a forceful way:

Examples:

Halfway through, she powered into the lead and went on to win the race.
15
in sports, to hit or kick the ball very hard:

Examples:

She powered her return past Fernandez who had come to the net.
He powered his drive over 300 yards down the first hole.
16

Examples:

a power shower
a power drill
17
in sports, having great physical strength:

Examples:

a power pitcher
a power hitter
18
the ability or right to control people and events, or to influence the way people act or think in important ways:

Examples:

The election results showed that the Democrats had lost power, with Republicans taking over five more Democratic seats.
19
someone or something, such as an organization or country, that has control over others, often because of authority, importance, or wealth:

Examples:

She is a power in the field of medical education.
20
a natural skill or ability to do something:

Examples:

[ U ] She was so shocked that for a moment she lost the power of speech.
[ C ] The doctor did everything in her power to save him.
[ C ] More, though, it is an expression of the artist's power to create.
21

Examples:

He’s a good baseball player – he hits with a lot of power.
22

Examples:

23
Power is also the rate at which work is done or at which energy is produced, measured in watts.
24
Power is also electricity:

Examples:

Whenever there’s a storm in these parts, you can expect a power outage (= a loss of electrical power).
25
the number of times that a number is to be multiplied by itself, or the number that is the result of multiplying a number by itself:

Examples:

Three to the fourth power can be written 34.
27
to provide something with the energy it needs to operate:

Examples:

[ T ] Many buses and trucks are powered by diesel fuel.
28
the ability to control or influence people, organizations, events, etc.:

Examples:

Shareholder power is a crucial part of how any capitalist society works.
power over sb/sth Most CEOs have a great deal of power over the boards of directors.
the power to do sth Oil prices still have the power to hurt the world economy.
The bitter power struggle at the top of the company had a negative effect on the value of its shares.
The balance of power in global markets is beginning to shift.
be in power The last government was in power for over a decade.
29
an official or legal authority to do something:

Examples:

have the power to do sth The regulator has the power to block a deal that would be damaging to consumers.
30
a group, country, or organization that has control over others, especially because of financial or military strength:

Examples:

a world/global power China is fast developing into a major global power.
31
the strength or influence of something in a particular market or activity:

Examples:

We are seeing a shift in economic power from Europe to Asia.
I believe he has seriously underestimated the power of the brand.
32
energy that is produced and used to make things work:

Examples:

The agency is running a campaign to try and turn public opinion in favour of nuclear power.
The energy regulator agreed that power companies could make customers sign long-term agreements.
a power cut/failure/outage A power outage in Quebec left 6 million people in the dark.
33
the ability of a machine, computer, etc. to work effectively:

Examples:

The system is a way of measuring how much computer-processing power is needed to handle all the hits to a customer's site.
34
to provide a machine, computer, vehicle, etc. with the energy it needs to work effectively:

Examples:

be powered by sth
Most computers are now powered by Intel chips.
35
to make something happen in a faster or more effective way:

Examples:

The supermarket's strong performance was powered by a 39% increase in sales of organic produce.
36

Examples:

power tools
a power drill
37
used to describe something that shows that you are a busy important person in a company:

Examples:

She was wearing her trademark power suit for the meeting.

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