Signs for POWER, POWERFUL

How to sign "power", "powerful" in American Sign Language:

Definition: The ability to cause or prevent an action, make things happen, to control people or things.

Same for POWERFUL.

Context examples: "a wealthy and powerful businessman", "the company abused its power", "don't have the power to help you", "power struggle", "the power of hurricane winds" and many contexts.

Semantic variation (less commonly used): physical force or strength. This sign is more, not always, related to the concept of "strength".

Usage examples: "cleaning all in the house spotless required lots of muscle power", "couldn't walk under her own power".

Sometimes use of these signs under STRONG/STRENGTH.

If you talk about power as in electricity, use another sign (electricity/electrical). E.g. "power tools".

Related signs

Vocabulary: ABILITY.

Opposite: POWERLESS.

Written ASL

[Note: ASL writing is not an official standard. This sign language writing remains in a state of open space to allow room for experiment, evolution, and improvement.]

ASL written for POWERFUL

ASL digit written and contributed by Todd Hicks the ASLwrite community, 2017.

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