power

A2 Topic:Physics

Also spelled pow’rs

US /ˈpaʊɚ/ UK /ˈpaʊ̯ə̯/ See IPA manual

Freq #499

Meanings

1

noun
The ability to control or influence people and events.

The president holds a great deal of power.
2

noun
Strength or energy, especially physical force.

He hit the ball with all his power.
3

noun
The ability to do something.

After the accident he lost the power to walk.
4

verb
To supply energy that makes a machine work.

Solar panels power the entire house.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the ability to control or... powerfulness

3 noun · the ability to do something. ability

More aptitude arm authority capability capacity clout command competence competency control craft disposition

Opposites

impotence weakness

Word family

Forms poweredpoweringpowers

Derived forms agripowerairpowerantipowerbepowerbiopowerbipowerbrainpowercandlepowercopowercounterpowercyberpowerdepower

Related forms possible potent skill successor

Appears in

Phrases (14)

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political power
authority and influence within government or society

Adjective + noun
gain power
to acquire political or social authority

Verb + noun
hold power
to possess and exercise authority over a country or organization

Verb + noun
lose power
to cease to have authority or control

Verb + noun
economic power
the financial and commercial strength of a country or organization

Adjective + noun
military power
the armed strength and defence capability of a nation

Adjective + noun

Idioms (3)

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Proverbs (9)

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Simplified etymology

Power entered English in the Middle Ages and can be traced back to Latin posse, “to be able.”

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pótis Proto-Italic *potis Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésmi Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *bʰúHt Proto-Italic *som Proto-Italic *possom Latin posseder. Vulgar Latin potēre Old French pooir Anglo-Norman poerbor. Middle English power English power From Middle English power, poer, from Old French poeir, from Vulgar Latin potēre, from Latin posse, whence English potent. Compare French pouvoir. Displaced the native Old English anweald.

*h₁es- Proto-Indo-European power Middle English poeir Old French posso la-vul possum Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Physics Energy & Industry

External links

# power

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈpaʊɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpaʊ̯ə̯/
**Frequency rank:** 499

## Meanings
1. The ability to control or influence people and events.
2. Strength or energy, especially physical force.
3. The ability to do something.
4. To supply energy that makes a machine work.

## Examples
- The president holds a great deal of power.
- He hit the ball with all his power.
- After the accident he lost the power to walk.
- Solar panels power the entire house.

## Synonyms
- aptitude
- arm
- authority
- capability
- capacity
- clout
- command
- competence
- competency
- control
- craft
- disposition

## Antonyms
- impotence
- weakness

## Derived Forms
- agripower
- airpower
- antipower
- bepower
- biopower
- bipower
- brainpower
- candlepower
- copower
- counterpower
- cyberpower
- depower

## Related Forms
- possible
- potent
- skill
- successor

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁es-
- Root: power
- Root: poeir
- Root: posso
- Root: possum

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *pótis Proto-Italic *potis Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- Proto-Indo-European *h₁ésmi Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *bʰúHt Proto-Italic *som Proto-Italic *possom Latin posseder. Vulgar Latin potēre Old French pooir Anglo-Norman poerbor. Middle English power English power From Middle English power, poer, from Old French poeir, from Vulgar Latin potēre, from Latin posse, whence English potent. Compare French pouvoir. Displaced the native Old English anweald.

## AI Etymology
Power comes from Middle English power, poer, from Old French poeir, from Vulgar Latin potēre, from Latin posse, whence English potent. Compare French pouvoir. Displaced the native Old English anweald. The historical chain includes *h₁es- (Proto-Indo-European), power (Middle English), poeir (Old French), posso (la-vul), possum (Latin). In present-day English it covers the ability to control or influence people and events, strength or energy, especially physical force, and the ability to do something. The wider family includes derived forms such as agripower, airpower, antipower, bepower, biopower and related forms such as possible, potent, skill, successor.

## Topics
- Physics
- Energy & Industry

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power

Meanings

Verb forms

Thesaurus

Appears in

Phrases (14)

Idioms (3)

Proverbs (9)

Simplified etymology

Etymology

Topics

External links

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