# powerful

/ˈpaʊɝfəɫ/ (US) · /pˈaʊəfəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/powerful
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. strong or influential

adjective · CEFR B1

having great strength, control, or the ability to influence people and events.

For teachers: possessing or capable of exerting significant physical, political, or social power.

- The president gave a powerful speech that changed many people's minds.
- The CEO is one of the most powerful figures in the tech industry, capable of shifting global markets with a single announcement.

### 2. effective or intense

adjective · CEFR B2

having a very strong effect on your mind or your senses.

For teachers: producing a sharp, intense, or highly effective impact on the senses or intellect.

- The medicine had a powerful effect and he felt better within minutes.
- The novel's powerful imagery stayed with me long after I had finished the final chapter.

### 3. mathematical property

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

a special type of number in math that can be divided by certain square numbers.

For teachers: referring to a natural number m such that if a prime number p divides m, then p squared also divides m.

- In our math class, we learned how to identify a powerful number.
- The mathematician demonstrated that while all perfect powers are powerful numbers, the converse is not necessarily true.

### 4. very or extremely

adverb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Informal

used to mean 'very' or 'extremely' in some local styles of speaking.

For teachers: used as an intensifier equivalent to 'very'; restricted to specific regional dialects.

- That was a powerful long walk we took this morning.
- He was powerful hungry by the time they reached the camp, having skipped both breakfast and lunch.

Usage: Usually placed before an adjective to add emphasis.

## Examples

- The new engine is very powerful.
- She gave a powerful speech that convinced the entire board to change their minds about the budget.
- The prime minister's powerful influence over the legislative process ensured that the controversial bill passed despite significant public opposition and internal party dissent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.