major power
6
4.6
- noun
:
potencia mayor
- Strategically, however, China needs North Korea to keep other major powers at bay.
- other major powers
- major powers in the region
- relations with major powers
At that time, Sweden and Denmark are major powers, major players on on the scene.
- At that time, Sweden and Denmark are major powers, major players on on the scene.
- I mean, what major power in this world just lets people walk across their border?
- And as Europeans lose that edge, as they shrunk enormously and continue to shrink, they can't be a major power in the world anymore.
- And you don't want the US military getting, you know, in skirmishes with anyone, but especially, you know, a major power like China.
- As a responsible major power in the region, I hope sincerely that it would find a peaceful answer to its challenges.
- We see two different major powers being mentioned, right?
Examples
-
As a responsible major power in the region, I hope sincerely that it would find a peaceful answer to its challenges.
-
The world looked so different that some people believed conflicts among major powers had ended.
Academic text (2001) -
We see two different major powers being mentioned, right?
-
We are a major power at this moment.
-
I mean, what major power in this world just lets people walk across their border?
-
The United States' relations with these major powers will be critical.
Academic text (2004) -
In this regard, Japan was no different from other major powers in the League.
Academic text (1995) -
How realistic is it to expect member states, especially the major powers, to yield this control?
Academic text (1993) -
Today, only about thirty nations recognize Taiwan, and none of them is a major power.
Academic text (1997) -
The major power in the region is using its influence to negotiate a peaceful resolution.
Synonyms
118
4.6
A very powerful country that can influence the world
21
4.9
A country that can affect events around the world
12
4.2
A country strong enough to influence events and policies around the world
4
9.3
A country, group, or person that is more powerful than others and leads them
Antonyms
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning of 'major power' is directly derivable from combining 'major' (important, significant) with 'power' (ability to influence or control), yielding an especially influential state or actor. This adjective+noun composition and the geopolitical sense of 'power' are common cross-linguistically and follow regular compositional semantics, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Major power comes from the simple image of a country that is very major (big or important) and has real power (a strong army, lots of money or influence). So it means a country able to 'influence' events around the world.