power

Electricity supplied to a building, machine, or area.

• The power is off.
• A storm cut power to the whole village.
• Solar panels provide power for the house.

Similar words: electricity

Common phrases: power supply, power cut, solar power

Physical strength or force that makes something move or happen.

• His kick had real power.
• The waves hit the boat with great power.
• She admired the power of the horse’s legs.

How to use it: power of something (We felt the power of the waves.)

Similar words: strength, force

Opposites: weakness

Common phrases: muscle power, sheer power, power of something

An ability to do something, sometimes something unusual or impossible for ordinary people.

• The hero has the power to fly.
• She used her powers to help people.
• His powers of memory surprised us.

How to use it: power to do something (The wizard has the power to disappear.); powers of something (Her powers of observation are remarkable.)

Similar words: ability, capacity

Opposites: inability

Common phrases: special power, power to fly, healing power

How much energy a machine uses or produces in a certain amount of time.

• Power is measured in watts.
• This motor has a power output of two kilowatts.
• The device uses less power at a lower speed.

Common phrases: power output, rated power, measure power

A number made by multiplying another number by itself a stated number of times.

• Three to the power of two is nine.
• Write one thousand as a power of ten.
• We learned how to calculate powers of whole numbers.

How to use it: to the power of a number (Two to the power of four is sixteen.)

Common phrases: power of ten, third power, to the power

A person or group with the authority to control others or make important decisions.

• The church was a major power in the town.
• Local powers resisted the new law.
• The powers that be have rejected our request.

Similar words: authority

Common phrases: local power, ruling power, powers that be

To supply the energy that makes a machine or device work.

• Batteries power the toy.
• A small motor powers the fan.
• What powers this boat?

How to use it: be powered by something (The clock is powered by a small battery.)

Similar words: drive, fuel

Common phrases: power a machine, power a device, power something electrically