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superpower meaning and examples

2025-09-09

Meaning

The word superpower has two main meanings:

  1. Ability sense: An extraordinary ability or power that goes beyond normal human limits (often used in comics, movies, or science fiction).
  2. Political sense: A very powerful and influential country that has global dominance in economic, military, or political fields.

Grammar and Usage

  • Part of speech: Noun

  • Countable noun: "a superpower" (in both senses).

  • Usage examples:

    • He has a superpower that allows him to fly.
    • The United States and China are considered global superpowers.

Common Phrases

  • hidden superpower – an ability someone didn’t know they had
  • develop a superpower – to gain or improve an extraordinary skill
  • global superpower – a country with worldwide influence
  • economic superpower – a country that dominates economically

Collocations

  • have a superpower
  • possess a superpower
  • use a superpower
  • become a superpower
  • world superpower

Examples

  1. She wished she had the superpower of invisibility.
  2. Flying is one of the most popular superpowers in comic books.
  3. The boy’s kindness was described as his secret superpower.
  4. After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union emerged as rival superpowers.
  5. Japan is sometimes referred to as a technological superpower.
  6. The ability to stay calm under pressure can be considered a workplace superpower.
  7. China is expected to strengthen its role as a global superpower in the coming decades.
  8. If you could choose any superpower, what would it be?
  • Ability sense: extraordinary power, special ability, supernatural ability, gift
  • Political sense: major power, great power, dominant nation

Antonym

  • Ability sense: weakness, limitation
  • Political sense: minor power, small nation