powerful
/ˈpaʊəfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpaʊərfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpau̇(-ə)r-fəl/ (ame, mw)
powerful — adjective
- powerfulpositive
- more powerfulcomparative
- most powerfulsuperlative
1. able to make people obey and to shape important events or decisions
able to make people obey and to shape important events or decisions
The minister is powerful enough to change the budget in one meeting.
powerful enough to + verb
After the merger, the bank became one of the country's most powerful companies.
one of the most powerful + plural noun
Although she is quiet, Dr. Huang is powerful in city politics.
The judge grew powerful as more business leaders asked for help.
Few families were as powerful as the Chens during that period.
- influential
stresses effect on opinions or decisions, not always formal authority
- dominant
sounds stronger and suggests staying above rivals
- commanding
often suggests natural authority and respect
- mighty
more dramatic or literary than everyday powerful
文法句型
be powerful enough to + verb
be powerful in politics
become powerful
one of the most powerful + plural noun
用法筆記
Usually about people, governments, companies, or families that can direct others or influence major results. Distinguish from adjective/2, which is about physical force or machine strength.
常見錯誤
2. able to push, hit, pull, or move with great force or strength
able to push, hit, pull, or move with great force or strength
The storm's powerful waves broke the old wooden pier by dawn.
powerful + natural force
This small truck has a powerful engine for mountain roads.
collocation: powerful engine
Lena gave the door a powerful kick and the lock snapped.
The current was powerful enough to pull the swimmer downstream.
The machine is powerful but still quiet during the night shift.
- strong
the broad everyday word for physical strength or force
- forceful
often describes energetic action, movement, or impact
- muscular
used mainly for a person's body rather than machines
- high-powered
especially common for engines, tools, and equipment
- weak
lacking physical strength or force
- feeble
weaker and often suggests very little force
- low-powered
used especially for equipment or engines
文法句型
a powerful engine
a powerful kick
be powerful enough to + verb
a powerful machine
用法筆記
Common with engines, waves, kicks, machines, and sometimes strong people or animals. Distinguish from adjective/3, which is about a strong effect on feelings, the body, or a situation.
常見錯誤
3. causing a strong change in thoughts, feelings, the body, or a result
causing a strong change in thoughts, feelings, the body, or a result
The final speech was so powerful that the whole hall fell silent.
so powerful that + result
The photo had a powerful effect on parents after the school fire.
powerful effect on + person
Even one tablet can be powerful enough to stop the pain.
Maria heard a powerful message about grief at the church service.
The documentary remains powerful because the children tell their own stories.
- weak
having little effect or influence
- mild
often used for medicine, feelings, or reactions that are not strong
- ineffective
fails to produce the intended result
文法句型
have a powerful effect on someone
be powerful enough to + verb
so powerful that + clause
remain powerful
用法筆記
Common with effect, message, speech, image, film, and medicine. Distinguish from adjective/2, which focuses on force or strength rather than emotional, mental, or medical impact.
常見錯誤
4. able to make a tiny or distant thing appear much larger
able to make a tiny or distant thing appear much larger
The lab bought a powerful microscope for studying cells and dust.
collocation: powerful microscope
With powerful binoculars, Nora could see boats near the far island.
This camera has a powerful zoom for birds in tall trees.
The telescope is powerful enough to show Saturn's rings clearly.
A more powerful lens helped the students read the tiny number.
- high-powered
common for microscopes, lenses, lasers, and other equipment
- strong
the usual everyday word for glasses or lenses
- weak
used for a lens or signal with little strength
- low-powered
used for equipment that enlarges less
文法句型
a powerful microscope
a powerful telescope
be powerful enough to + verb
a powerful zoom
用法筆記
Common with microscopes, telescopes, binoculars, lenses, and camera zooms. Distinguish from adjective/2, which is about force, not about making an image look larger.