power

1 of 3

noun

pow·​er ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce power (audio)
often attributive
1
a(1)
: ability to act or produce an effect
(2)
: ability to get extra-base hits
(3)
: capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect
b
: legal or official authority, capacity, or right
2
a
: possession of control, authority, or influence over others
b
: one having such power
specifically : a sovereign state
c
: a controlling group : establishment
often used in the phrase the powers that be
d
archaic : a force of armed men
e
chiefly dialectal : a large number or quantity
3
a
: physical might
b
: mental or moral efficacy
c
: political control or influence
4
powers plural : an order of angels see celestial hierarchy
5
a
: the number of times as indicated by an exponent that a number occurs as a factor in a product
5 to the third power is 125
also : the product itself
8 is a power of 2
6
a
: a source or means of supplying energy
especially : electricity
c
: the time rate at which work is done or energy emitted or transferred
7
8
9
: the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis in a statistical test when a particular alternative hypothesis happens to be true

power

2 of 3

verb

powered; powering; powers

transitive verb

1
: to supply with power and especially motive power
2
: to give impetus to

intransitive verb

1
: to move about by means of motive power
2
: to move with great speed or force

power

3 of 3

adjective

1
: operated mechanically or electrically rather than manually
a car with power locks
power tools
2
: of, relating to, or utilizing strength
plays a power game
also : powerful sense 1
a power critic
3
: of, relating to, or being a meal at which influential people discuss business or politics
a power lunch
Choose the Right Synonym for power

power, authority, jurisdiction, control, command, sway, dominion mean the right to govern or rule or determine.

power implies possession of ability to wield force, authority, or influence.

the power to mold public opinion

authority implies power for a specific purpose within specified limits.

granted the authority to manage her estate

jurisdiction applies to official power exercised within prescribed limits.

the bureau having jurisdiction over parks

control stresses the power to direct and restrain.

you are responsible for the students under your control

command implies the power to make arbitrary decisions and compel obedience.

the army officer in command

sway suggests the extent of exercised power or influence.

the empire extended its sway over the region

dominion stresses sovereign power or supreme authority.

given dominion over all the animals

power, force, energy, strength, might mean the ability to exert effort.

power may imply latent or exerted physical, mental, or spiritual ability to act or be acted upon.

the awesome power of flowing water

force implies the actual effective exercise of power.

used enough force to push the door open

energy applies to power expended or capable of being transformed into work.

a worker with boundless energy

strength applies to the quality or property of a person or thing that makes possible the exertion of force or the withstanding of strain, pressure, or attack.

use weight training to build your strength

might implies great or overwhelming power or strength.

the belief that might makes right

Examples of power in a Sentence

Noun She is from a very wealthy family with a lot of social power. The company abused its power, forcing workers to work overtime without pay. The company was almost destroyed in a power struggle between its two founders. After the emperor died, power passed to his eldest son. the peaceful transfer of power to the newly elected president The president was removed from power in the recent uprising. The new government has taken power. The rebels rose to power several years ago. A small company with only a few products has grown to become a power in the industry. Our state is now the region's leading economic power. Verb The running back powered through the defensive line. He powered the ball past the goalie. She powered her way to the finish line. Adjective The car comes equipped with power windows.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Reverse Cable Wood Chops: The cable wood chop exercise uses a cable machine to create a wood-chopping action, building strength and power in the core and obliques. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 8 Mar. 2024 She and her family are welcomed by the queen, Isabelle (Robin Wright, gorgeously cloaked in robes, power and snobbery), and her fiancé, Prince Henry (Nick Robinson), who looks oddly sheepish, as if he’d been caught in a lie on his Royal Match profile. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Expats looks at issues of privilege and power dynamics, race, class, the intersection of so many different identities and how this tragedy affects all of them. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Mar. 2024 But the event tends to attract participants with top skills and powers of invention who can’t help but make the temperature rise. The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024 Hernández’s conservative National Party had dominated the country of 10 million people for more than a decade, taking power after a 2009 coup ousted leftist president Mel Zelaya. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Regarding the key factors in driving positive change, the women and gender expansive individuals surveyed reported that more diversity in positions of power, pay transparency and stronger enforcement are the most crucial factors in shifting the landscape. Katie Bain, Billboard, 8 Mar. 2024 In the short time since artificial intelligence hit the mainstream, its power to do the previously unimaginable is already clear. François Candelon, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Seven tents were scattered along two blocks of the power line right-of-way one block to the west. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Verb
The speech showed how Mr. Biden is straining to reconstitute the coalition that powered his 2020 victory. Nicholas Nehamas, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Other themes include anomaly detection, powering chatbots, and also a general productivity category. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Microsoft and Google are among the firms hoping that energy-intensive industrial operations can ultimately be powered by small nuclear plants on-site, with Microsoft even putting AI to work trying to streamline the burdensome process of getting plants approved. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The chipmaker, which produces processors that power AI systems, reported last month that its full-year profits grew more than 580% from the prior year. Krystal Hur, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 They’re powered by a rechargeable lithium battery that offers up to eight hours of illumination. Megan Schaltegger, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 Titanosaurs’ rapid growth rates were also powered by their prodigious appetites for plants. Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 Alibaba joins Silicon Valley peers like Microsoft Corp. in placing big bets on generative AI, the technology that powers ChatGPT. Jane Zhang, Fortune Asia, 5 Mar. 2024 Caddis eyeglasses have powered their growth with a Q3 consumer focus. Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
There is both a power and a non-power option, but keep in mind that only the power option will recline; the non-power option only has an adjustable headrest. Addie Morton, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Feb. 2023 This is not a power (conference) school going against a non-power (conference). Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'power.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French poer, pouer, from poer to be able, from Vulgar Latin *potēre, alteration of Latin posse — more at potent

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1540, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of power was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near power

Cite this Entry

“Power.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/power. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

power

1 of 3 noun
pow·​er ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce power (audio)
1
a
: possession of control, authority, or influence over others
a politician hungry for power
b
: one having such power
especially : an independent state
China is a major power in Asia
2
: ability to act or do something
lose the power of speech
3
a
: physical might
b
: mental strength
4
: the number of times as indicated by an exponent a number occurs as a factor in a product
also : the product obtained by raising a number to a power
103, or 10·10·10, is the 3rd power of 10
5
a
: force or energy that is or can be applied to work
electric power
b
: the time rate at which work is done or energy given off or transferred
6

power

2 of 3 adjective
: relating to, supplying, or using power
a power drill
power failure

power

3 of 3 verb
: to supply with power

Medical Definition

power

noun
pow·​er ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce power (audio)
1
: an inherent property or effect
a drug that enhances the heart's pumping powerKathleen Fackelmann
2

Legal Definition

power

noun
pow·​er
1
: capability of acting or of producing an effect
parties of unequal bargaining power
2
a
: authority or capacity to act that is delegated by law or constitution
often used in pl.
commerce power
often capitalized C&P : the power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to regulate commerce especially among the states see also commerce clause
concurrent power
: a power that is held simultaneously by more than one entity
specifically : a power delegated to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution that is also held by the states
enumerated powers \ i-​ˈnü-​mə-​ˌrā-​təd-​, -​ˈnyü-​ \
: the powers specifically named and delegated to the federal government or prohibited to be exercised by the states under the U.S. Constitution compare reserved powers in this entry
executive power
: the power delegated to the executive of a government
specifically : any or all of the powers delegated to the president under Article II of the U.S. Constitution
implied power
: a power that is reasonably necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of a power expressly granted
especially : a power that is not specifically delegated to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution but that is implied by the necessary and proper clause to be delegated for the purpose of carrying out the enumerated powers see also McCulloch v. Maryland
judicial power
: the power granted to the judicial branch of a government
specifically : the power delegated to the judiciary under Article III of the U.S. Constitution
legislative power
: the power delegated to a legislative branch of a government
specifically : any or all of the powers delegated to Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution
police power
: the power of a government to exercise reasonable control over persons and property within its jurisdiction in the interest of the general security, health, safety, morals, and welfare except where legally prohibited (as by constitutional provision)
reserved powers
: the political powers reserved by a constitution to the exclusive jurisdiction of a specified political authority
specifically : powers that are not expressly delegated to the federal government nor expressly prohibited to the states and are therefore left to the states under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution compare enumerated powers in this entry
spending power
: the power granted to a government body to make expenditures
specifically : the power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the U.S.
taxing power
: the power granted to a government body to lay and collect taxes
specifically : such power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution
war powers
: the powers delegated to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government relating to the waging of war: as
a : the power delegated to Congress under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to declare war
b : the power delegated to the president under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution to serve as commander in chief of the armed forces
b
: an ability, authority, or right usually conferred by one person upon another to do something that effects a change in a legal relationship
specifically : such authority or right to affect another's interest in property (as by conveyance) see also power of appointment, power of attorney
collateral power
: naked power in this entry
general power
: a power that may be exercised in favor of anyone including the donee
implied power
: the power of one acting under an implied agency
naked power
: a power (as a power of sale) granted to one who has no interest in the property to which the power relates (as an executor who is not a legatee or devisee)

called also collateral power

compare power coupled with an interest in this entry
power appendant \ -​ə-​ˈpen-​dənt \
: a power coupled with an interest (as a grant of a lease) that the donee can exercise only out of an estate (as a life estate) that he or she holds

called also power appurtenant

power coupled with an interest
: a power accompanying an interest of the donee in the property to which the power relates
power in gross
: a naked power exercisable by the donee only in the creation of estates that will not attach to the estate the donee holds or be satisfied out of the donee's own interest
power of acceptance
: the power of an offeree to bind an offeror to a contract by accepting the offer
power of modification \ -​ˌmä-​də-​fə-​ˈkā-​shən \
: a power reserved in an instrument (as one creating a trust) to make changes by a specified method
power of revocation
: a power usually reserved by a person in an instrument (as one creating a trust) to revoke the legal relationship that the person has created or made a possibility
power of sale
: a power granted (as in a will, trust, or mortgage) to sell the property to which the power relates often under specified circumstances (as upon the default of a mortgage)
power of termination
: a power of a grantor or the grantor's successors in interest to enter upon an estate that was granted upon a condition after the breach of the condition in order to terminate the granted estate and revest it in the grantor or successors in interest

called also right of entry, right of reentry

special power
: a power in which the person or class of persons to whom the disposition of property under the power is to be made is expressly designated and excludes the donee or where the power is to transfer, charge, or encumber any estate less than a fee simple
stock power
: an irrevocable power of attorney used in making a transfer of a certificate of stock
3
a
: possession of control, authority, or influence over others
b
: one having such power
specifically : a sovereign state
c
: political control or influence

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