horsepower

noun

horse·​pow·​er ˈhȯrs-ˌpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce horsepower (audio)
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

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
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.
The additional motor driving the rear wheels increases horsepower from 220 to 300 but only causes a small worsening of efficiency. Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 For this build, the team began with a RAV4 plug-in hybrid that provides 302 horsepower. Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 6 Nov. 2024 State of play: The two-seat F80 is the most powerful road car ever to come out of the Ferrari factory, the company said, delivering 1,200 horsepower from a V6 hybrid powertrain. Nathan Bomey, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024 The first Mercedes since World War II to use an engine with more than four cylinders, its inline-six was the first new motor from the company in more than a decade, and used an overhead camshaft — a technology Mercedes had used in Grand Prix racing decades before — to help create 86 horsepower. Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for horsepower 

Word History

First Known Use

1806, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of horsepower was in 1806

Dictionary Entries Near horsepower

Cite this Entry

“Horsepower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/horsepower. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

horsepower

noun
horse·​pow·​er ˈhȯr-ˌspau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce horsepower (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on horsepower

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!