horsepower

noun

horse·​pow·​er ˈhȯrs-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

1

: the power that a horse exerts in pulling

2

: a unit of power equal in the U.S. to 746 watts and nearly equivalent to the English gravitational unit of the same name that equals 550 foot-pounds of work per second

3

: effective power

intellectual horsepower

computing horsepower

Synonyms of horsepower

• power
• energy
• strength
• muscle

Examples of horsepower in a Sentence

an engine with 200 horsepower

that architectural firm probably doesn't have the creative horsepower to produce a truly innovative design

Recent Examples on the Web

The new four-door GT will use three electric motors to make around 1,000 brake horsepower and have a range of around 400 miles, numbers that have become the new standard, more or less, for luxury EVs. —Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026

The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, producing 137 horsepower (101 kW). —New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026

And the powertrain apart from very, very, very likely having the hybrid V6, the TRD Pro Tundra has 437 horsepower, 583 pound feet of torque. —Joel Feder, The Drive, 26 Mar. 2026

Canning, who lives at the bottom of a valley, has a one horsepower sump pump, a high capacity machine, to help prevent his basement from flooding. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing horsepower

• shaft horsepower

Rhymes for horsepower

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• superpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

horsepower

noun

horse·​pow·​er ˈhȯr-ˌspau̇(-ə)r 

: a unit of power equal in the U.S. to 746 watts and nearly equal to the English unit of the same name that equals 550 foot-pounds of work per second