Powerful Meaning
/ˈpaʊəfl̩/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjHaving, or capable of exerting, power or influence.
adjLeading to many or important deductions.
Sentence Examples
Our team competed with a powerful rival.
Matt is a powerful acquisition for our team.
The video cameras are linked to a powerful computer.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ storm knocked down many trees and caused widespread damage.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new engine was far more ____ than its predecessor, producing twice the horsepower.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pouerful, powarfull. By surface analysis, power + -ful.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The powerful grace that lies / In herbs, plants, stones, and their true qualities."
— c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
"[T]he ſubſtance of gold is indeed invincible by the povverfulleſt action of natural heat, […]"
— 1646, Thomas Browne, “Compendiously of Sundry Tenents Concerning Minerall and Terreous Bodies, which Examined, Prove either False or Dubious”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, paragraph 3, page 85:
"As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once."
— 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 19, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
"Dear Political Activists
All your chanting, marching, voting, picketing, boycotting and letter-writing will not change a thing; you will never right the wrongs of this world. The only thing your activity will accomplish is to make some of you feel better. Such activity makes powerless people feel useful, and provides them the illusion that they're making a difference. But it doesn't work. Nothing changes. The powerful keep the power. That's why they're called the powerful."
— 2004, George Carlin, “NOTHING CHANGES”, in When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 106:
"Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere — an invisible bubble of magnetism generated by the powerful churning of molten metals at Earth’s core."
— 2023 December 27, Mindy Weisberger, “Ancient bricks baked when Nebuchadnezzar II was king absorbed a power surge in Earth’s magnetic field”, in CNN:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ storm knocked down many trees and caused widespread damage.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The new engine was far more ____ than its predecessor, producing twice the horsepower.