power
noun OPAL WOPAL S
/ˈpaʊə(r)/
/ˈpaʊər/
Idioms - [uncountable] the ability to control people or things
- power to do something He has the power to make things very unpleasant for us.
- Religion is losing its power to shape our behaviour.
- power over somebody/something The aim is to give people more power over their own lives.
- The government wields enormous power over the economy.
- in your power 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
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- ultimate
- considerable
- …
- come to
- rise to
- assume
- …
- be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something)
- flow from somebody/something
- lie with somebody/something
- …
- struggle
- relations
- structure
- …
- in power
- in somebody’s power
- power of
- …
- abuse of power
- the balance of power
- a bid for power
- …
- [uncountable] political control of a country or an area
- 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.
- in power 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
Collocations PoliticsPoliticsPowersee also balance of power- create/form/be the leader of a political party
- gain/take/win/lose/regain control of Congress
- start/spark/lead/be on the brink of a revolution
- be engaged/locked in an internal power struggle
- lead/form a rival/breakaway faction
- seize/take control of the government/power
- bring down/overthrow/topple the government/president/regime
- abolish/overthrow/restore the monarchy
- establish/install a military dictatorship/a stable government
- be forced/removed/driven from office/power
- resign/step down as party leader/an MP/president/prime minister
- enter/retire from/return to political life
- spark/provoke a heated/hot/intense/lively debate
- engage in/participate in/contribute to (the) political/public debate (on/over something)
- get involved in/feel excluded from the political process
- launch/start/lead/spearhead a campaign/movement
- join/be linked with the peace/anti-war/feminist/civil rights movement
- criticize/speak out against/challenge/support the government
- lobby/put pressure on the government (to do something)
- come under fire/pressure from opposition parties
- call for/demand/propose/push for/advocate democratic/political/land reform(s)
- formulate/implement domestic economic policy
- change/influence/shape/have an impact on government/economic/public policy
- be consistent with/be in line with/go against/be opposed to government policy
- reform/restructure/modernize the tax system
- privatize/improve/deliver/make cuts in public services
- invest (heavily) in/spend something on schools/education/public services/(the) infrastructure
- nationalize the banks/the oil industry
- promise/propose/deliver/give ($80 billion in/significant/substantial/massive) tax cuts
- a/the budget is approved/ (especially North American English) passed by parliament/congress
- have a majority in/have seats in Parliament/Congress/the Senate
- propose/sponsor a bill/legislation/a resolution
- introduce/bring in/draw up/draft/adopt/pass a bill/a law/legislation/measures
- amend/repeal an act/a law/legislation
- veto/vote against/oppose a bill/legislation/a measure/a proposal/a resolution
- get/require/be decided by a majority vote
Extra ExamplesTopics Politicsa2- 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- ultimate
- considerable
- …
- come to
- rise to
- assume
- …
- be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something)
- flow from somebody/something
- lie with somebody/something
- …
- struggle
- relations
- structure
- …
- in power
- in somebody’s power
- power of
- …
- abuse of power
- the balance of power
- a bid for power
- …
- [uncountable] energy that can be collected and used to operate a machine, to make electricity, etc.
- 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.
Wordfindersee also horsepower- battery
- charge
- conduct
- connect
- electricity
- generate
- insulate
- power
- switch
- wire
Extra ExamplesTopics The environmenta2- 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- full
- reduced
- electric
- …
- generate
- produce
- provide (somebody/something with)
- …
- drive something
- run something
- go off
- …
- cable
- grid
- line
- …
- power for
- a source of power
- [uncountable] 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
- (also especially North American English) a power outage
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- full
- reduced
- electric
- …
- generate
- produce
- provide (somebody/something with)
- …
- drive something
- run something
- go off
- …
- cable
- grid
- line
- …
- power for
- a source of power
- [uncountable] the quality of having great power or force, or of being very effective
- 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
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awesome
- great
- real
- …
- [uncountable] physical strength used in action; physical strength that somebody possesses and might use
- with power He hit the ball with as much power as he could.
- the sheer physical power of the man
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- awesome
- great
- real
- …
- [uncountable] (in people) the ability or opportunity to do something
- in your power I will do everything in my power to help you.
- within your power 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
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- air
- combat
- military
- …
- have
- possess
- use
- …
- beyond somebody/something’s power
- in somebody’s power
- within somebody’s power
- …
- at the height of your powers
- at the peak of your powers
- at the zenith of your powers
- …
- [uncountable](also powers [plural])a particular ability of the body or mind
- Spiderman uses his powers to fight crime.
- power of something 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- air
- combat
- military
- …
- have
- possess
- use
- …
- beyond somebody/something’s power
- in somebody’s power
- within somebody’s power
- …
- at the height of your powers
- at the peak of your powers
- at the zenith of your powers
- …
- powers[plural] 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- air
- combat
- military
- …
- have
- possess
- use
- …
- beyond somebody/something’s power
- in somebody’s power
- within somebody’s power
- …
- at the height of your powers
- at the peak of your powers
- at the zenith of your powers
- …
- [countable, usually plural, uncountable] the right or authority of a person or group to do something
- 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.
- power to do something The Secretary of State has the power to approve the proposals.
- power of something 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- ultimate
- considerable
- …
- come to
- rise to
- assume
- …
- be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something)
- flow from somebody/something
- lie with somebody/something
- …
- struggle
- relations
- structure
- …
- in power
- in somebody’s power
- power of
- …
- abuse of power
- the balance of power
- a bid for power
- …
- [countable] a country with a lot of influence in world affairs, or with great military strength
- 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- major
- world
- …
- [uncountable] (in compounds) strength or influence in a particular area of activity
- 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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- air
- combat
- military
- …
- have
- possess
- use
- …
- beyond somebody/something’s power
- in somebody’s power
- within somebody’s power
- …
- at the height of your powers
- at the peak of your powers
- at the zenith of your powers
- …
- [uncountable] the influence of a particular thing or group within society
- Hollywood star power
- Parent power has helped save the school from closure.
- power of something the power of the media
- Values are distorted by the power of advertising.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- air
- combat
- military
- …
- have
- possess
- use
- …
- beyond somebody/something’s power
- in somebody’s power
- within somebody’s power
- …
- at the height of your powers
- at the peak of your powers
- at the zenith of your powers
- …
- [countable, usually singular] the number of times that an amount is to be multiplied by itself
- to the power of something 4 to the power of 3 is 43 (= 4 × 4 × 4 = 64).
- [uncountable] the amount by which a lens can make objects appear larger
- the power of a microscope/telescope
- [countable] 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
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- absolute
- ultimate
- considerable
- …
- come to
- rise to
- assume
- …
- be concentrated in (the hands of somebody/something)
- flow from somebody/something
- lie with somebody/something
- …
- struggle
- relations
- structure
- …
- in power
- in somebody’s power
- power of
- …
- abuse of power
- the balance of power
- a bid for power
- …
control
energy
ability
authority
country
influence
mathematics
of lens
good/evil spirit
Word OriginMiddle English: from Anglo-Norman French poeir, from an alteration of Latin posse ‘be able’.
Idioms
the corridors of power
- (sometimes humorous) 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.
do somebody a power of good
- (old-fashioned, informal) to be very good for somebody’s physical or mental health
- A break would do us all a power of good.
more power to somebody’s elbow
- (British English, old-fashioned, informal) used to encourage somebody or express support for their actions
the (real) power behind the throne
- 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.
the powers that be
- (often ironic) the people who control an organization, a country, etc.
- The powers that be are still trying to decide what should be done.
sweep (somebody) to power
- to win an election by a large number of votes; to make somebody win an election with a large number of votes