gigawatt

noun

giga·​watt ˈji-gə-ˌwät How to pronounce gigawatt (audio) ˈgi- How to pronounce gigawatt (audio)
: a unit of power equal to one billion watts

Examples of gigawatt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of that total, about 12 gigawatts is in Texas. Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 15 June 2026 According to economists, nine gigawatts of wind energy by 2030 would, on average, save New Englanders $630 million on electricity bills annually. Julianna Larue, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026 La Camera has warned that the world is adding record levels of renewable capacity—hundreds of gigawatts annually—yet demand growth continues to outpace expectations. Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026 International projections indicate that global solar and wind installations will expand by approximately 4,600 gigawatts by 2030. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gigawatt

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gigawatt was circa 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Gigawatt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gigawatt. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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