I've no power over him - he does what he wants to.
Goals may give focus, but dreams give power.
Education and knowledge are the power of the minorities in this country.
من هیچ کنترلی روی او ندارم. هرکار که بخواهد انجام می‌دهد.
The president has a lot of power.
I did everything in my power (= everything I could do) to help her.
Police officers have the power to arrest people.
There is a meeting of world powers in Rome next week.
The ship was helpless against the power of the storm.
People should have more power over the decisions that affect their lives.
The voters have once again shown their support for the party in power.
De Gaulle came to power in 1958.
They seized power in a military coup.
The police have been given special powers to help them in the fight against terrorism.
The committee has the power to order an enquiry.
The chairman has the power of veto on all decisions.
After the accident she lost the power of speech (=ability to speak).
Many people are opposed to the use of nuclear power.
The ship was able to leave port under its own power (=without help from another machine, ship etc).
Property in the city is beyond the purchasing power of most people.
The power of the explosion smashed windows across the street.
Make sure the power is switched off first.
Parts of the country have had power cuts because of the storms.
The power came back on.
Egypt is still a major power in the Middle East.
I wish it was within my power to change the decision.
The ambassador promised to do everything in his power to get the hostages released.
It's beyond the power of the court to make such a decision.
It looks as if your holiday has done you a power of good.
The powers that be don't want the media to get hold of the story.
▪ have power People who have power never seem to use it to help others.
▪ get/gain power Women were trying to gain power in a male-dominated world.
▪ use your power (also exercise (your) power formal) The party will use all its power and influence to raise the issue in the Senate. | Questions have been asked about the way the police exercised their power.
▪ wield power formal (=use power - used when someone has a lot of power) The Church still wields enormous power in the country.
▪ great/huge/enormous The central banks have huge power.
▪ limited The king's power was limited.
▪ absolute power (=total power, with no limits) Parents had absolute power over children in those days.
▪ unbridled power (=without any controls) Certain wealthy men exercised unbridled power.
▪ real power The real power lay with the President's advisers.
▪ a power struggle (=a situation in which groups or leaders try to get control) The country is locked in a power struggle between forces favouring and opposing change.
▪ the balance of power There has been a shift in the balance of power between the two countries.
▪ a position of power (=a job or role that gives someone power) Many of them were using their positions of power for personal advantage.
▪ an abuse of power (=a wrong or unfair use of power) This cover-up is a scandalous abuse of power.
▪ be in power The law was passed when the Democrats were in power.
▪ come to power (=start being in control) Tony Blair came to power in 1997.
▪ take power (=start being in control, usually without an election) Many people fled after the military took power last September.
▪ seize power (=take power by force) His son seized power in a military coup.
▪ assume power formal (=take power) He assumed power after the assassination of the former president.
▪ win power (=win an election) The Prime Minister is facing his toughest challenge since winning power.
▪ rise to power The Roman emperor Vespasian rose to power through command of an army.
▪ return/be returned to power (=start being in control again, usually after an election) The party was returned to power with a reduced majority.
▪ hold power (=be in power) Economic disaster befell the country during the decade when he held power.
▪ restore somebody to power (=put someone in control of a country again) In 2004, the army restored him to power.
▪ sweep to power (=win an election easily) Reagan swept to power by promising reforms.
▪ cling to power (=not lose it, or try not to lose it) Mao Tse-tung, the leader of the 1949 Communist revolution, clung to power for 27 years.
▪ sb's rise to power The programme examines Saddam Hussein's rise to power.
▪ sb's return to power Churchill's return to power had an immediate effect upon Anglo-American relations.
▪ mental powers Is it possible to enhance your mental powers?
▪ creative powers A music teacher should have a real interest in developing children's creative powers.
▪ healing powers The water was supposed to have healing powers.
▪ magical/special/miraculous powers Diamonds were once thought to have magical powers.
▪ the power of speech I was so surprised that I momentarily lost the power of speech.
▪ the power of flight Some birds have lost the power of flight over millions of years.
▪ powers of observation Experience improves our powers of observation, since it teaches us what to look for.
▪ powers of concentration As you get older, your powers of concentration may decrease.
▪ powers of persuasion She used all her powers of persuasion to convince Tilly that the move was a good idea.
▪ be at the height of your powers (=be at a time in your life when your abilities are strongest) Fonteyn was still at the height of her powers as a dancer.
▪ lose a power He was a brilliant speaker, who never lost the power to influence people.
▪ sb's powers are failing/waning (=becoming less good) Mark felt that his creative powers were waning.
▪ nuclear power The accident raised doubts about the safety of nuclear power.
▪ solar power (=energy produced by sunlight) They use solar power for all their heating.
▪ wind power (=energy produced by the wind) Is wind power the answer to the energy crisis?
▪ wave power (=energy produced by waves in the sea) Wave power can be used to generate electricity.
▪ hydroelectric power (=energy produced by flowing water) The factory is run on hydroelectric power.
▪ steam power (=energy produced from steam) Early engines were driven by steam power.
▪ a source of power One problem is their reliance on coal as the main source of power.
▪ a great power Britain wanted to maintain her status as a great power.
▪ a major power (=very important one) There will be representatives from all the world's major powers at the conference.
▪ a world power (=one with influence all over the world) The United States had replaced Great Britain as the dominant world power.
▪ a military/naval power (=with a very strong army or navy) Russia had become a naval power equal to Spain.
▪ a foreign power He was charged with spying for a foreign power.
▪ country an area of land controlled by its own government, president, king etc: Thailand is a beautiful country. | Which country would you most like to visit?
▪ nation a country, considered especially in relation to its people and its political and economic structure: The events shocked the whole nation. | The US is the most powerful nation in the world. | Leaders of the world's major industrialized nations attended the meeting.
▪ state a country considered as a political organization with its own government: They believe that Scotland should be an independent sovereign state. | Most European states joined the Council of Europe.
▪ power a country that is very strong and important: a meeting of the great powers | Britain is still a world power.
▪ superpower one of the most powerful countries in the world: During the Cuban Missile Crisis there was a real danger of conflict between the two world superpowers.
• ~ (over sb/sth) The aim is to give people more power over their own lives.
• ~ (to do sth) He has the power to make things very unpleasant for us.
• 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.
• It is not within my power (= I am unable or not in a position) to help you.
• I will do everything in my power to help you.
• He had lost the power of speech.
• The drug may affect your powers of concentration.
• He had to use all his powers of persuasion.
• At 26, he is at the height of his powers and ranked fourth in the world.
• ~ (to do sth) The Secretary of State has the power to approve the proposals.
• The powers of the police must be clearly defined.
• ~ (of sth) 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.
• Their efforts to exercise collective bargaining power against multinational companies have failed.
• The ship was helpless against the power of the storm.
• It was a performance of great power.
• They were impressed by the power of her arguments.
• He hit the ball with as much power as he could.
• They've switched off the power.
• 4 to the power of 3 is 4 3 (= 4 × 4 × 4 = 64).
• She believed in the existence of a benevolent power.
more at The corridors of power at corridor, sweep (sb) to power at sweep v.
• He seized power in a military coup.
2. U, C, usually pl.
• The president has the power of veto over all legislation.
• Only the manager has the authority to sign cheques.
¤ The authority of the police must be clearly defined.
• Wind power drives the machinery.
• The world's energy supply is heading for crisis.
• Don't underestimate my powers of persuasion.
• Having served in four governments, he has the greatest staying power of any politician today.
• He did everything in his power to find us somewhere to live.
• He sits on the board but has no executive power.
• He wants to change the world through the power of prayer.
• I lost my power of speech for a while after the accident.
• I'm afraid it's not within my power to help you.
• In 1946 Dalí was at the peak of his powers.
• People say that the First Lady is the power behind the throne.
• Power tools make many jobs so much easier.
• Religion is rapidly losing its power to shape our behaviour.
• She exudes star power whenever she's on screen.
• She was in the elevator when the power went off.
• Some states delegate police power to municipalities.
• The Crown prince assumed power in his father's place.
• The company was too small to hold two such power-hungry men.
• The court has no power to order a psychiatric examination of the child's parents.
• The emperor held no real power.
• The government has limited legal powers over television.
• The new law delegates many of these powers to school governors.
• The party's power base is in the industrial north of the country.
• The plane was still climbing at full power.
• The real legislative power still rests with the lower chamber.
• The transmitter is operating on reduced power.
• The war brought about a shift in the balance of power.
• They believe he has supernatural powers.
• They fell from power in 1992.
• They held power for 18 years.
• They held us in their power.
• They use these streams to generate power for the mill.
• This wheel provides the power to the cutting machine.
• When did this government come to power?
• Who will get the upper hand in this power struggle?
• Wind power is used to drive the machinery.
• Air power decided the battle in favour of the Allies.
• He has the power to make life very difficult for us.
• He talked about the enormous power of the mass media.
• He transformed a backward country into a world power.
• Increased trade union bargaining power led to higher wage settlements.
• It is not within my power to help you.
• It was the beginning of a power struggle between rival factions within the party.
• She was determined to go through with her plan, now that she had him in her power.
• Sufferers of the disease have failing mental powers and poor memories.
• The Emperor had absolute power over all his subjects.
• The cost of solar power needs to fall before it makes an impact on the energy market.
• The country's dominance was assured by its technological and military power.
• The government promised greater opportunities for parent power.
• The influence of the former colonial power is still very much in evidence.
• There seems to have been a power failure.
• Those aged over 55 now have a purchasing power of more than £30 billion annually.
• To go higher the pilot increases the engine power.
• Values are distorted by the power of advertising.
Once nicotine has you in its power, it's very difficult to stop smoking.
She has the power to charm any man she meets.
Does the president have more power than the prime minister?
How long has the Conservative Party been in power?
The army seized power after five days of anti-government demonstrations.
Our car doesn't have enough power to tow a trailer.
Weightlifters have tremendous power in their arms and legs.
Scientists are working to harness the power of the atom.
The economic power of many Asian countries has grown dramatically in recent years.
[ + to infinitive ] I'd like to help but I don't have the power to intervene in this dispute.
It's not in your power to cancel the order.
I can't give you a refund - I'm afraid it's not within my power.
You were acting beyond your powers when you agreed to give her a pay rise.
Visitors to the city are respectfully reminded of the council's powers to remove illegally parked vehicles.
You should disconnect the power before attempting to repair electrical equipment.
Our building lost power (= the electricity was stopped) during the storm.
My mental powers aren't as good as they used to be.
He was so shocked by what happened to his parents that he lost the power of speech.
[ + to infinitive ] The surgeon did everything in her power to save him.
Spain was an important military power in the 16th century.
Germany is on its way to becoming a world power with a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
She is an increasingly important power in the company.
The ship was only slightly damaged in the collision and was able to sail into port under its own power.
specialized The power rating of my amplifier is 40 watts per channel.
What's the magnification power of your binoculars?
You'll need a very high-power microscope to see something as small as that.
A low-power telescope is enough if you only want to look at the moon.
2 to the fourth power is 2 times 2 times 2 times 2, which equals 16.
3 to the power 4 is usually written as 3 4 .
1) N-UNCOUNT If someone has power, they have a lot of control over people and activities.
In a democracy, power must be divided.
...a political power struggle between the Liberals and National Party.
2) N-UNCOUNT: usu N to-inf, N of n Your power to do something is your ability to do it.
He was so drunk that he had lost the power of speech.
3) N-UNCOUNT: poss N If it is in or within your power to do something, you are able to do it or you have the resources to deal with it.
We must do everything in our power to ensure the success of the conference.
4) N-UNCOUNT: also N in pl, oft the N to-inf If someone in authority has the power to do something, they have the legal right to do it.
The legal powers of British Customs officers are laid out in the Customs and Excise Management Act of 1969.
5) N-UNCOUNT: oft in N If people take power or come to power, they take charge of a country's affairs. If a group of people are in power, they are in charge of a country's affairs.
The party has been in power since independence in 1964.
6) N-COUNT: usu supp N You can use power to refer to a country that is very rich or important, or has strong military forces.
In Western eyes, Iraq is a major power in an area of great strategic importance.
...the emergence of the new major economic power, Japan.
7) N-UNCOUNT: usu supp N The power of something is the ability that it has to move or affect things.
The Roadrunner had better power, better tyres, and better brakes.
8) N-UNCOUNT Power is energy, especially electricity, that is obtained in large quantities from a fuel source and used to operate lights, heating, and machinery.
There is enough power to run up to four lights.
9) VERB The device or fuel that powers a machine provides the energy that the machine needs in order to work.
[V n] The planes are powered by Rolls Royce engines.
-powered COMB in ADJ ...battery-powered radios. ...nuclear-powered submarines.
10) ADJ: ADJ n Power tools are operated by electricity.
...large power tools, such as chainsaws.
11) N-SING: to the N of num, to the ord N In mathematics, power is used in expressions such as 2 to the power of 4 or 2 to the 4th power to indicate that 2 must be multiplied by itself 4 times. This is written in numbers as 24, or 2 x 2 x 2 x 2, which equals 16.
Any number to the power of nought is equal to one.
12) PHRASE You can refer to people in authority as the powers that be, especially when you want to say that you disagree with them or do not understand what they say or do.
The powers that be may keep us from building a house just where we want to.
• She is from a very wealthy family with a lot of social power.
• The company abused its power, forcing workers to work overtime without pay.
• The company was almost destroyed in a power struggle between its two founders.
• He has no power over me.
• After the emperor died, power passed to his eldest son.
• The president was removed from power in the recent uprising.
• The new government has taken power.
• The latest elections put a new (political) party in power.
• The rebels rose/came to power several years ago.
• A small company with only a few products has grown to become a power in the industry.
• Our state is now the region's leading economic power.
• Getting the floor clean required lots of muscle power.
• I was impressed by the sheer power of her tennis serve.
• They are threatening to use air/military power to resolve the conflict.
c : the energy or force that someone or something can produce for movement, work, etc.
• It's an old story, but it still has the power to frighten children.
• You have the power to change your life.
• It's in your power [=you have the ability] to change the way things are done here.
• He's studying the healing powers of various plants.
• Some things are beyond the power of human understanding.
• He used all of his powers of persuasion, but she still would not agree.
• Each member of the club has equal voting power.
• The new computer is tiny but has more computing power than many desktop computers.
• His position gives him great bargaining power.
• It was a speech of great power.
• A good lawyer is able to argue with power and conviction.
• Great poetry reminds us of the power of language.
• You have the power to decide whether or not you'll agree to do it.
• The President has the power to veto laws passed by Congress.
• The board of directors has given her power to negotiate the contract.
• The car's engine yields more power while using less fuel.
• We lost power during the storm.
• Do you know how many watts of power your refrigerator uses per day?
• 8 is a power of 2 because 2 x 2 x 2 is equal to 8.
• If he wants to write a book, more power to him!
• the corridors of power in Washington, D.C.
• He's the company president, but his assistant is the (real) power behind the throne.
the powers that be : the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
• The students wanted to have a big party, but the powers that be didn't approve.
• I applied for the job, but I guess the powers that be didn't think I was qualified. synonyms power, authority, jurisdiction, command, and dominion mean the right or ability to govern, rule, or strongly influence people or situations. power is a general word that suggests the ability to control or influence what is done, felt, etc.
• The movie has the power to shape public opinion. authority suggests power that has been given to someone for a specific purpose and that has certain limits.
• She gave her nephew the authority to manage the estate on her behalf. jurisdiction refers to official, legal power that has certain limits.
• This matter is outside the court's jurisdiction. command refers to the power that someone (such as a military officer) has to make decisions and to force people to behave in a desired way.
• He was given command of the regiment. dominion is a formal word that stresses the greatest or highest power or authority.
• The country no longer has dominion over the island.
If you were offered a million dollars to kidnap a baby, would you do that (the baby wouldn't be hurt)?
Have you ever studied law at University? Do you know any lawyers? Do you trust them?
If you had power to make a law, what would that be?