the powers that be
idiom
: the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
The students wanted to have a big party, but the powers that be didn't approve.
Examples of the powers that be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For one thing, the powers that be don’t take kindly to the idea of multiples.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
The prevailing theory is that the powers that be want to position the offshoot under the umbrella of parent company Paramount Global.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 14 Feb. 2025
Buckley fretted over getting enough songs together to reward the faith that the powers that be had in him upon signing.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025
Just as each choice Mark makes appears logical enough to go along with, each action Mark takes still leads him back to his desk job — which makes each move seem like it’s been anticipated, to some degree, by the powers that be.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the powers that be 
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David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2025
The prevailing theory is that the powers that be want to position the offshoot under the umbrella of parent company Paramount Global.
—Charlie Mason, TVLine, 14 Feb. 2025
Buckley fretted over getting enough songs together to reward the faith that the powers that be had in him upon signing.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2025
Just as each choice Mark makes appears logical enough to go along with, each action Mark takes still leads him back to his desk job — which makes each move seem like it’s been anticipated, to some degree, by the powers that be.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for the powers that be
Dictionary Entries Near the powers that be
Cite this Entry
“The powers that be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20powers%20that%20be. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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