higher power: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, religious/spiritual, philosophical, sometimes journalistic
Quick answer
What does “higher power” mean?
A supreme being, deity, or divine force that is believed to have control over human destiny or the universe.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A supreme being, deity, or divine force that is believed to have control over human destiny or the universe.
Any authority, force, or principle perceived as greater than oneself, which can include religious deities, spiritual forces, fate, nature, or even institutional authority in metaphorical usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English due to greater prevalence of non-denominational spiritual discourse. In British English, more likely to appear in academic or interfaith contexts rather than everyday conversation.
Connotations
In American usage, often associated with 12-step programs and recovery culture. In British usage, may carry slightly more academic or philosophical weight.
Frequency
American English shows approximately 30% higher frequency in corpora, particularly in self-help, recovery, and spiritual literature.
Grammar
How to Use “higher power” in a Sentence
[subject] believes in a higher power[subject] surrendered to a higher powera higher power [verb] somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “higher power” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The programme encourages participants to higher-power their anxieties.
American English
- She learned to higher-power her addiction through the twelve steps.
adverb
British English
- She lives higher-powerly, always consulting her spiritual beliefs.
American English
- He decided to act higher-powerly, trusting in divine guidance.
adjective
British English
- He has a higher-power belief system that guides his decisions.
American English
- The recovery group promotes a higher-power approach to sobriety.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare except in metaphorical sense: 'We answer to the higher power of shareholder expectations.'
Academic
Used in religious studies, philosophy, and sociology to discuss belief systems without denominational specificity.
Everyday
Most common in discussions about spirituality, recovery programs, or personal beliefs.
Technical
Not typically technical; appears in theological or psychological literature about belief systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “higher power”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “higher power”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “higher power”
- Using 'an higher power' (should be 'a higher power')
- Capitalizing unnecessarily unless referring to a specific deity: 'I believe in a higher power' not 'I believe in a Higher Power' (unless personifying).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used in a spiritual but non-religious sense, or even metaphorically for any supreme authority.
Only when personified or treated as a proper noun (e.g., 'I pray to the Higher Power'). In most uses, lowercase is correct.
'God' typically refers to a specific deity (especially in monotheistic religions), while 'higher power' is deliberately vague and inclusive of various spiritual concepts.
Yes, though less common: 'different cultures believe in different higher powers.'
A supreme being, deity, or divine force that is believed to have control over human destiny or the universe.
Higher power is usually formal, religious/spiritual, philosophical, sometimes journalistic in register.
Higher power: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ.ə ˈpaʊər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ.ɚ ˈpaʊ.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “answer to a higher power”
- “at the mercy of a higher power”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HIGHER = above us, POWER = control; something with control from above.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS UP (a higher power controls from above); SUBMISSION IS DOWN (we submit to a higher power).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'higher power' MOST commonly used?