the powers that be
idiom
: the people who decide what is allowed or acceptable in a group, organization, etc.
The students wanted to have a big party, but the powers that be didn't approve.
Examples of the powers that be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Indeed, Rutledge believes the powers that be are greedily swindling the common folk.
—
Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
This is just like what the powers that be have been marketing.
—Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Not for the powers that be — or for the working-class people who covet the mushroom as a way to get rich, too.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025
What the powers that be would say is: What’s the difference between this and tennis?
—Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
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Jessica Wang, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025
This is just like what the powers that be have been marketing.
—Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
Not for the powers that be — or for the working-class people who covet the mushroom as a way to get rich, too.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025
What the powers that be would say is: What’s the difference between this and tennis?
—Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the powers that be
Cite this Entry
“The powers that be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20powers%20that%20be. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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