powerful

Everyday

1. Very strong; having a lot of strength or force. tree →
2. Having great control or influence over people: a powerful king. tree →
3. Having a strong effect: a powerful medicine, a powerful speech. tree →
4. (of machines) Able to do a lot of work: a powerful engine. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, powerful magnets, engines and storms. In history and stories, powerful rulers and wizards. In writing lessons, a powerful sentence moves the reader. Phrases: powerful enough, a powerful voice.

Examples

• The lion has powerful jaws. tree →
• The king was the most powerful man in the land. tree →
• That was a powerful speech; some people cried. tree →
• A powerful storm knocked down trees. tree →
• This magnet is more powerful than that one. tree →
• The wizard cast a powerful spell. tree →
• "That was a powerful speech," thought the little Toad. tree →

Note

Comparative: more powerful, most powerful. Adverb: powerfully. Opposite: weak, powerless. Noun: power. In maths and physics, «power» also means the rate of doing work, and 2 to the power 3 means 2 × 2 × 2.

In Jewish tradition

"The voice of the LORD is powerful" praises God's voice that shakes the world, in the psalm about a thunderstorm.

Interpretation. This psalm is sung on Shabbat. Tradition says God's voice at Sinai was heard with great power.

Examples

• The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. (Writings PSA.29.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparative: more powerful, most powerful. Adverb: powerfully. Opposite: weak, powerless. Noun: power. In maths and physics, «power» also means the rate of doing work, and 2 to the power 3 means 2 × 2 × 2.