great power

noun

often capitalized G&P
: one of the nations that figure most decisively in international affairs : superpower

Examples of great power in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Regardless of who’s president, Goitein and Delson both say that Congress needs to reform the laws that allow presidents to wield such great power. Thor Benson, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2024 The transformation for health IT comes with unique advances and opportunities to improve patients' healthcare, but with great power comes great responsibility. Dewayne Hart, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Early-twentieth-century Japan—fresh off the economic and military successes of the Meiji era—was consumed by nationalistic fervor and public feelings of entitlement to equal rank with the great powers of the era. Rohan Mukherjee, Foreign Affairs, 4 Apr. 2024 But remember, with great power comes great... need for reading the manual. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 Butcher block countertop owners will reap the reward of being able to skip the cutting board occasionally, but with great power comes great responsibility. Katherine Owen, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024 And with great power comes great scrutiny – not least at the hands of the tabloid press. Amanda Davies, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 Clashes between great powers are clashes of ideas and interests alike. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 None would have arrived, as Wilson did at Versailles in 1919, prepared to dictate terms to the great powers of Europe, or dispatched American soldiers to the snows of Russia in the hopes of affecting the course of the Russian Revolution. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'great power.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great power was in 1660

Dictionary Entries Near great power

Cite this Entry

“Great power.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20power. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

great power

noun
: one of the nations that have the greatest influence, resources, and military strength in the world

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