Meaning & use
hydropower
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Meaning
noununcountable
Electricity produced by using the energy of moving or falling water, typically at a dam or river.
Grammar: Uncountable; no plural form. Use 'a source of hydropower' or 'hydropower generation' to count instances.
Patterns
- generate hydropower
- hydropower from rivers
- hydropower plant
Norway produces most of its electricity from hydropower.
The new dam will generate hydropower for thousands of homes.
Hydropower is considered a renewable energy source because water cycles naturally.
Common combinations
- generate hydropower
- The station can generate hydropower even in winter.
- hydropower plant
- They built a hydropower plant on the river.
- source of hydropower
- Mountain rivers are a major source of hydropower.
- hydropower dam
- The hydropower dam supplies the entire region.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hydroelectric power
- The full technical term; hydropower is a shorter, more everyday equivalent.
- water power
- A broader term for any power from water, including mechanical power, while hydropower usually means electricity.
Word family
- hydroelectric adjective
- Relating to electricity produced by water power.
- hydro noun
- Informal short form for hydroelectric power or a hydropower plant.
Commonly confused: hydropower or hydroelectricity?
hydropower vs hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the electricity itself, while hydropower often refers to the energy source or the power generated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'hydropower' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Hydropower is specifically electrical power from water, so it is used to generate electricity. Growing crops, building roads, and purifying air are not direct uses of hydropower.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hydropower”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.