Used with the definite article to denote people who possess power or influence; plural-only collective noun.
Definitionen
People who hold great power, authority, or influence, considered as a group (usually with the definite article). The new policy threatened the interests of the powerful.
Used chiefly in dialectal or informal speech meaning ‘very’ or ‘extremely’.
Definitionen
To a great degree; very; extremely (chiefly dialectal or informal). It’s powerful hot outside today.