within its power

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "within its power" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has the ability or authority to do something. Example: "The committee will act within its power to ensure the project is completed on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A: It should have a clear commitment that, wherever it is within its power, it will implement the living wage, and it will encourage private sector employers to also implement the living wage.

The Guardian

"The town doesn't have it within its power to provide enough incentives for developers to do that".

The New York Times

"Any one party or branch of government has it within its power to stop the deficit from worsening.

The New York Times

The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ruled that the Clinton administration acted within its power when it gave national monument status to seven natural landmarks, including the Grand Canyon-Parashant NatinnArizonament in andzona and the Giant Sequoia National Monument in California.

The New York Times

The U.S. Justice Department appealed, however, and in May 1949, the United States Supreme Court handed down a brief, unsigned, unanimous decision that overturned the appeals court and stated that the FCC acted within its power when it refused the license renewal for Lafount and the other owners.

Wikipedia

"Since the parasite depends upon the host for its food, we would suppose that it would do everything within its power to aid the gentile community to become richer and more powerful.

Huffington Post

What is needed is an ironclad American assurance that if Israel refrains from acting in its own window of opportunity — and all other options have failed to halt Tehran's nuclear quest — Washington will act to prevent a nuclear Iran while it is still within its power to do so.

The New York Times

The Scottish Football Association has told the union that it is not within its power to intervene, while the SPL has ruled out suggestions that it could withhold money from Hearts in order to pay the players directly.

BBC

Meanwhile, Stanford University released a statement declaring that it "did everything within its power to assure that justice was served in this case".

Huffington Post

No government can pretend to sovereignty and responsibility unless it makes every effort within its power and its means to ensure that outcome.

The Guardian - Tech

We might have expected our government to unequivocally condemn Israel's actions, cease all arms-related exports to Israel, cease giving financial assistance to Israel, cease trading with Israel on preferential terms, and we might have expected it to do everything within its power to halt the massacre and bring those responsible to account.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "within its power" to clearly define the scope of an entity's ability or authority in a specific situation. This avoids ambiguity and sets realistic expectations.

Common error

Avoid assuming that an entity has unlimited authority. Always ensure that actions taken are genuinely "within its power", and not exceeding legal or ethical boundaries.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "within its power" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (often an organization, government, or individual) to indicate the extent of their capacity, ability, or jurisdiction. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "within its power" is a versatile and commonly used expression to denote the scope of someone or something's ability or authority. As Ludwig confirms, it's grammatically sound and suitable for diverse contexts, including news reporting, formal communication, and scientific discourse. While alternatives like "within its authority" or "within its capabilities" may offer subtle differences in nuance, the core meaning remains consistent. When using this phrase, ensure that the described actions truly fall within the entity's defined boundaries to avoid misinterpretations or overestimations of their capacity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in its power to do

More explicit restatement of the original phrase.

within its jurisdiction

Focuses specifically on legal or official authority.

within its remit

Highlights the scope or area of responsibility.

within its competence

Highlights the skill or ability to perform a specific task.

within its capabilities

Emphasizes the limits of what it can achieve.

within its scope

Emphasizes the extent or range of something.

within its capacity

Refers to the available resources or space to do something.

under its control

Focuses on the aspect of having command or management.

at its disposal

Highlights that something is accessible and available for use.

subject to its authority

Highlights that something is under the rule of another.

FAQs

How can I use "within its power" in a sentence?

You can use "within its power" to describe the extent of someone's or something's ability or authority. For example, "The organization will do everything "within its power" to help those in need".

What phrases are similar to "within its power"?

Alternatives include "within its authority", "within its capabilities", or "within its jurisdiction". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "within its power" or "within its powers"?

Both are grammatically correct. "Within its power" generally refers to a single capacity or ability, while "within its powers" refers to the overall scope of its authority or capabilities. The choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "within its power" and "at its disposal"?

"Within its power" indicates the ability or authority to do something. "At its disposal" indicates resources or means available. While related, they emphasize different aspects. An entity might have something "at its disposal" but still not have it "within its power" to use it in a particular way.