Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
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powerful

adjective · adverb US /ˈpaʊərfəl/

having great power or force or potency or effect

How often you will meet it

Rank 1,611 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 11,242 times across 175,177 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.

What it means

adjective

  1. having great power or force or potency or effect the most powerful government in western Europehis powerful arms
  2. strong enough to knock down or overwhelm also: knock-down a knock-down blow
  3. having great influence also: potent
  4. (of a person) possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful also: brawny, hefty, muscular, sinewy a hefty athletea muscular boxer
  5. displaying superhuman strength or power also: herculean herculean exertions

adverb

  1. (Southern regional intensive) very; to a great degree also: mighty, mightily, right the baby is mighty cutehe's mighty tired

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

powerful in real books

Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.

  • A mind scarcely now to be imitated, so contrary to self-preservation, the most powerful law of Nature.

    The Life and Most Surprising Adventures · Daniel Defoe · Chapter 1

  • We are served by invisible ministers who are more powerful than the genii and more nimble than Puck.

    Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1

  • And Teddy Pegram took most powerful to him and made him many a game and many a clever toy.

    The Torch and Other Tales · Eden Phillpotts · Chapter 1

  • Powerful it promised to be; exciting it promised to be; but weak it becomes, and, now and again, wearisome.

    Punch — Volume 101, November 7, 1891 · Various · Chapter 1

  • Formerly isolated, they have managed to gather around them powerful interests, accomplices high in office, and friends whose commanding situation protects them.

    Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1

Nearby in the frequency table

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