generator
noun
Did you know?
Generators work by rotating a coil of wire in a magnetic field, causing a current to flow in the wire. A generator may be a huge spinning turbine powered by water, wind, steam, gas, or nuclear reactions, which sends electricity out through power lines to thousands of customers. But normally when we use the word, we're thinking of a small machine powered by gasoline or diesel, such as you might keep in your basement for those times when a storm knocks out your power, to create electricity right in front of your eyes. A special kind of generator called an alternator powers a car's electrical system (including its lights, power steering, etc.) while the car is running.
Examples of generator in a Sentence
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
The only person on shift who knew the evacuation procedures was the building and safety manager, who was also handling generators, hoses, and building security.
—Amanda Starrantino, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Generac — The power generator maker rose 2% following an upgrade to buy from neutral at Citi.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
The problem emerged after the launch last year of Grok Imagine, an AI image generator that allows users to create videos and pictures by typing in text prompts.
—Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for generator
Cite this Entry
“Generator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generator. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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generator
noun
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