Power Extra Examples Influence Military Make People Government

• he has the power to make things very unpleasant for us.
• religion is losing its power to shape our behaviour.
• the aim is to give people more power over their own lives.
• the government wields enormous power over the economy.

power

1. the ability to control people or things
• He has the power to make things very unpleasant for us.
• Religion is losing its power to shape our behaviour.
• The aim is to give people more power over their own lives.
• The government wields enormous power over the economy.
• She had him completely in her power (= was able to do what she liked with him).
• In those days the king exercised real political power.

Extra Examples

• He sits on the board but has no executive power.
• The company was too small to hold two such power-hungry men.
• They held us in their power.
• the father's position of power and influence in the home
2. political control of a country or an area
• SEE ALSO balance of power
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/balance-of-power
• Hitler seized power in Germany in 1933.
• The following year he took power in a military coup.
• Labour won two elections in 1974, but lost power in 1979.
• The present regime has been in power for two years.
• The party came to power at the last election.
• They are hoping to return to power.
• a power struggle between rival factions within the party

Extra Examples

• The Crown prince assumed power in his father's place.
• People say that the First Lady is the power behind the throne.
• The emperor held no real power.
• The real legislative power still rests with the lower chamber.
• The war brought about a shift in the balance of power.
• They fell from power in 1992.
• They held power for 18 years.
• the transfer of power from a military to a civilian government
• He seized power in a military coup.
• The Emperor had absolute power over all his subjects.
3. energy that can be collected and used to operate a machine, to make electricity, etc.
• SEE ALSO horsepower
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/horsepower
• nuclear/wind/solar power
• engine power
• wave power
• They used these streams to generate power for the mill.
• Solar power generation is greatly affected by cloud cover.

Extra Examples

• The generator supplies power for lighting,
• The plane was still climbing at full power.
• The transmitter is operating on reduced power.
• This wheel provides the power to the cutting machine.
• Wind power is used to drive the machinery.
• The cost of solar power is falling all the time.
4. the public supply of electricity
• They've switched off the power.
• She was in the elevator when the power went off.
• The country's power supply is stretched to the limit.
• the national power grid
• a power failure
• a power outage
5. the quality of having great power or force, or of being very effective
• SEE ALSO firepower
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/firepower
• The ship was helpless against the power of the storm.
• They were impressed by the power of her arguments.
• Researchers are harnessing the power of computer modelling to find solutions to these challenges.
• It was a performance of great power.

Extra Examples

• He wants to change the world through the power of prayer.
• the destructive power of a hurricane
• the healing power of sleep
• the raw power of their music
6. physical strength used in action; physical strength that somebody possesses and might use
• He hit the ball with as much power as he could.
• the sheer physical power of the man
7. the ability or opportunity to do something
• I will do everything in my power to help you.
• It is not within my power (= I am unable) to help you.

Extra Examples

• He did everything in his power to find us somewhere to live.
• a task still beyond any computer's power
8. a particular ability of the body or mind
• Spiderman uses his powers to fight crime.
• He had lost the power of speech.
• The drug may affect your powers of concentration.
• He had to use all his powers of persuasion.

Extra Examples

• a tribute to his powers as a teacher
• her powers of observation
• Sufferers of the disease have failing mental powers and poor memories.
• They believe he has supernatural powers.
9. all the abilities of a person’s body or mind
• At 26, he is at the height of his powers and ranked fourth in the world.
10. the right or authority of a person or group to do something
• SEE ALSO power of attorney
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/power-of-attorney
• The powers of the police must be clearly defined.
• The court can only exercise powers granted to it by statute.
• City rulers abused their power by using public funds for private purposes.
• This sort of abuse of power is unacceptable.
• The Secretary of State has the power to approve the proposals.
• The president has the power of veto over all new legislation.
• Police in riot gear used their powers under the Public Order Act to move on 300 protesters.

Extra Examples

• The court has no power to order a psychiatric examination of the child's parents.
• The government has limited legal powers over television.
• The new law delegates many of these powers to school governors.
• certain powers that were granted to the government
• Some states delegate police power to municipalities.
11. a country with a lot of influence in world affairs, or with great military strength
• SEE ALSO superpower
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/superpower
• He transformed a backward country into a world power.
• major European powers such as France and Germany
• China is growing as an economic power.
• The influence of the former colonial power is still very much in evidence.
12. strength or influence in a particular area of activity
• SEE ALSO bargaining power
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/bargaining-power
• These companies have enormous economic power.
• the exercise of military power
• air/sea power (= military strength in the air/at sea)
• The purchasing power of today's youth is higher than ever.
• Several years ago, computer processing power was considerably less than it is now.
• The country's dominance was assured by its technological and military power.
13. the influence of a particular thing or group within society
• SEE ALSO Black Power
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/black-power
• Hollywood star power
• Parent power has helped save the school from closure.
• the power of the media
• Values are distorted by the power of advertising.
14. the number of times that an amount is to be multiplied by itself
• 4 to the power of 3 is 43 (= 4 × 4 × 4 = 64).
15. the amount by which a lens can make objects appear larger
• the power of a microscope/telescope
16. a good or evil spirit that controls the lives of others
• the powers of darkness (= the forces of evil)
• She believed in the existence of a benevolent power.
• belief in a higher power
17. the higher levels of government, where important decisions are made
• She had considerable influence in the corridors of power.
• She was a minister with considerable influence in the corridors of power.
18. to be very good for somebody’s physical or mental health
• A break would do us all a power of good.
19. used to encourage somebody or express support for their actions
20. the person who really controls an organization, a country, etc. in contrast to the person who is legally in charge
• The president’s wife was suspected of being the real power behind the throne.
21. the people who control an organization, a country, etc.
• The powers that be are still trying to decide what should be done.
22. to win an election by a large number of votes; to make somebody win an election with a large number of votes

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French poeir, from an alteration of Latin posse ‘be able’.