powerhouse

noun

pow·​er·​house ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ˌhau̇s 

1

a

: power plant sense 1

b

: a source of influence or inspiration

2

: one having great power: such as

a

: one having great drive, energy, or ability

a powerhouse rock band

b

: an athletic team characterized by strong aggressive play

Synonyms

• achiever
• highflyer
• hustler
• highflier
• enterpriser
• self-starter
• go-ahead
• go-getter

Examples of powerhouse in a Sentence

The country is an economic powerhouse.

Their company became a powerhouse in the video game industry.

She's a powerhouse on the tennis court.

This year's team is a powerhouse that's winning its games easily.

Seaweed is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals.

He is a powerhouse of ideas.

Recent Examples on the Web

At 20-2-2, the powerhouse club has amassed 62 points this season – 18 more than the second-place Washington Spirit (12-4-8). —Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

Earlier this year, Mediawan acquired a 51% stake in British-Australian indie powerhouse See-Saw Films, marking another milestone in the European group’s rapid global expansion. —Ben Croll, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025

Murphy has been leaning into the idea that the Brewers are a plucky underdog who no one believes in, while the Dodgers are the powerhouse expected to squash their competition. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025

Plus, analysis from our powerhouse roundtable. —ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for powerhouse

• boardinghouse
• charterhouse
• clearinghouse
• coffeehouse
• customhouse
• firehouse
• meetinghouse
• motherhouse
• packinghouse
• pilothouse
• slaughterhouse
• summerhouse

Kids Definition

powerhouse

noun

pow·​er·​house ˈpau̇(-ə)r-ˌhau̇s 

1

: power plant

2

: a person or thing having unusual strength or energy