English Reference
noun

powerhouse

n.
US /ˈpaʊɝˌhaʊs/ UK /pˈaʊəhˌaʊs/ pow·er·house UK spelling powerhouses

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a person, team, or company that is very successful and has a lot of power or influence.

    a person or organization possessing great energy, strength, or influence within a particular field.

    Simple

    The small tech startup quickly grew into a global powerhouse in the industry.

    In context

    By investing heavily in research and development, the nation established itself as an economic powerhouse within the region.

    weaklingunderdog
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a building where electricity is produced, or the part of a machine that provides the power.

    a building where electrical power is generated; literally, a power station.

    Simple

    The old powerhouse by the river was converted into a modern art gallery.

    In context

    Engineers inspected the powerhouse to ensure the turbines were capable of meeting the city's increased energy demands during the winter.

    power stationgenerator
  3. 03 C2 Proficiency InformalSlang

    a very strong set of cards in a game that is likely to win.

    a hand of cards possessing high point value or strategic strength, making a win highly probable.

    Simple

    He looked at his cards and realized he was holding a real powerhouse.

    In context

    Despite holding a powerhouse of a hand, the player remained stoic to avoid alerting his opponents to his advantage.

    winning hand

Limina was written in 2023 for the pianist Eliza McCarthy , who is a powerhouse soloist here with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland and conductor Ryan McAdams .

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026

This option was a moisture powerhouse for our testers, with the majority of the group rating it as fast-absorbing and hydrating for over 12 hours.

The Guardian· 29 Aug 2026

From power + house.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated