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to power

to power

455 3.7
To supply energy to make a machine or device work
  • verb
  • /ˈpaʊər/
translation icon : alimentar
  • But anyway, let's power one up and see how bright it is.
  • enough to power
  • powered by electricity
  • battery powered

You feel this refueling and this sort of like powering up that happens.

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Examples

  • One company, for example, plans to power its cars with remanufactured Volkswagen engines.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Chemists have recently developed a solar-powered "water splitter" that nearly doubles the efficiency.

    Academic text (1999)
  • And the way we power these is as follows.

  • We'll tap into it, power up the lab.

  • Once an array is constructed, there will be enough electricity to power lights and equipment.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Climate Healers, a group focused on sustainable practices, distributed solar-powered LED flashlights in India.

    Academic text (2011)
  • By the late 1770s, water pumps powered by Boulton and Watt engines were common.

    Academic text (1992)
  • The generator can power multiple devices during a power outage.

  • Solar panels power homes by converting sunlight into electricity.

  • He learned how to power his model car using batteries.

Synonyms

energizing
vsto power
  • Specialized
1 4.3

Making someone feel more awake and active

supplies mechanical or electrical energy specifically for operation

Idioms

2 8.2

A person who secretly controls a leader from behind the scenes

Having information gives a person an advantage to succeed or influence others

Phrasal Verbs

To take control of a country or government

to power through
  • Informal
8 4.2

Continue and finish a task with strong effort when it is hard or you are tired

Make the electricity go off by damaging power lines or equipment

to power-dive
  • Specialized
7.5

To make a plane dive steeply and quickly using engine power

Compounds

143 2.9

A place where electricity is made for homes and businesses

nuclear power
  • Specialized
119 3.4

Electricity made by using the energy inside atoms for homes and businesses

68 2.5

A cable that carries electricity from power stations to homes and businesses

air power
  • Specialized
65 4.0

Military strength a country has from its planes

53 3.0

A time when the electricity goes off

43 3.7

A network of wires and stations that brings electricity to homes and businesses

37 2.8

A way to make electricity by using wind to turn large machines like windmills

A situation where groups or countries share power so no one becomes too strong

30 3.0

Energy made from sunlight to run buildings and devices

28 3.5

A company that makes and provides electricity to homes and businesses

23 6.0

A document that allows one person to make legal and money decisions for another

23 3.2

A building where electricity is made for a town or area

21 4.9

A country that can affect events around the world

How people in a group share authority and influence

19 5.0

Being able to keep working well for a long time

17 2.7

A tool that uses electricity, a battery, or a small engine to work

15 3.4

A sudden loss of electricity in an area

power system
  • Specialized
15 3.5

A network of machines and wires that make and send electricity to homes and businesses

electric power
  • Specialized
14 3.4

How fast electricity moves in a circuit is equal to voltage times current

power broker
  • Literature
14 7.0

A person who controls votes and support to influence political and business decisions

electrical power
  • Specialized
12 3.2

The rate at which electricity flows through a circuit, measured by voltage times current

12 4.2

A country strong enough to influence events and policies around the world

11 5.3

The act of gaining control of a country, like becoming president

power-hungry
  • Offensive
11 6.3

A person who wants a lot of control over other people

A group of people who have authority to make decisions

power trip
  • Offensive
9 7.8

Wanting to feel important by being strict or mean to others

power steering
  • Specialized
8 3.3

A system that helps a driver turn the steering wheel with less effort

power play
  • Jargon
8 4.3

A time in hockey when one team has more players because of penalties

Ability to make things happen in ways that break natural rules

power couple
  • Literature
8 3.6

Two people in a romantic relationship who are both very successful and influential

6 4.6

A country with strong military and political influence worldwide

5 2.4

A wire that carries electricity to a machine or device

power user
  • Jargon
5 6.0

A person who works with advanced computer programs and often needs a powerful computer

real power
  • Specialized
4 6.7

Electrical energy in an alternating current that actually does work

4 2.2

A cable that connects a device to a wall outlet to give it power

4 2.8

A tool that uses electricity or a battery to make holes in hard things like wood and metal

power play
  • Literature
4 6.3

A forceful action to gain control over other people

power of the purse
  • Literature
4 6.6

Control over decisions by deciding how money is used

3 4.1

A group of companies that make electricity using energy from atoms

power module
  • Specialized
3 5.5

A small unit that gives electricity to other parts of a device

power move
  • Informal
3 6.6

A bold action to show strength or gain advantage over others

power politics
  • Literature
3 7.4

Countries use or threaten force to get what they want

3 3.2

A machine with a blade that has teeth and cuts wood or other materials

power unit
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A standard measure of electric power, like the watt

2 3.2

Energy from nuclear reactions that makes electricity for homes and cities

power pack
  • Specialized
2 3.9

A device that gives electric power at the right voltage for equipment

2 3.2

A machine that cuts grass using a small engine

2 8.8

The right to choose who gets certain property, often in a will

war power
  • Formal
2 7.7

Special authority the government uses during war to do things beyond normal limits

A fast walk done for exercise with strong arm swinging

Power that attracts many people, especially customers or fans

1 4.8

A country's strength at sea, shown by a powerful navy that controls the seas

fourth power
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A number multiplied by itself four times

resolving power
  • Specialized
1 6.7

The ability of a microscope or telescope to see two close things as separate

power brake
  • Specialized
1 3.5

A vehicle system that helps the driver stop with less force

A portable rechargeable battery that gives electricity to devices when there is no power

power-hungry
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A device that uses a lot of electricity and drains batteries quickly

second power
  • Specialized
1 3.2

The result of multiplying a number by itself

third power
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A number multiplied by itself twice

A central government gives power to local or regional governments to make local decisions

active power
  • Specialized
1 4.9

Energy in an electrical circuit that does useful work, like turning motors or lighting lamps

flower power
  • Archaic
1 6.6

A youth movement in the 1960s that promoted peace, love and no violence

1 6.7

Ability to sing or shout loudly for a long time

motive power
  • Specialized
1 5.5

Energy that makes a machine like a car or train move

power breakfast
  • Literature
1 4.8

A morning meeting where important people discuss business over breakfast

power engineering
  • Specialized
1 4.2

The study of how to make, move, and use electricity in systems like generators and power grids

power meter
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A device that measures how much electricity a circuit or appliance uses

power loom
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A machine that weaves cloth using power instead of hands

power shovel
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A large machine with a bucket that digs and moves earth

power play
  • Jargon
1 4.6

A team plan that puts several players in one area to try to score

power worker
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A person who runs or fixes machines at a power station that makes electricity

power train
  • Specialized
1 5.1

Connected gears and parts that send power from a vehicle's engine or motor to its wheels

9.9

Influence from people in a community, sometimes using sexual appeal to sway decisions

How Powerful

overdrive
  • Specialized
1 6.8
to power
455 3.7
to energize
  • US
30 4.7
to start up
38 3.0

Surface Forms

power infinitive
powered past
powered past participle
powering present participle
powers third person singular

Etymology

Power as a verb (to power a device) comes from the noun and the old idea of 'giving ability'; to power something is to give it the energy or ability to work.