How to Use authority in a Sentence

authority

noun
Definition of authoritynext
Synonyms for authoritynext
  • She has an air of authority.
  • The boss is not popular but his authority is unquestioned.
  • Her southern accent lent authority to her performance.
  • We reported the incident to hospital authorities.
  • Local authorities are investigating the accident.
  • The knife had been taken from a car in the area, authorities have said.
    — Jeff Parrott, Indianapolis Star, 13 Jan. 2020
  • Our authority figures should have told us the truth from the start.
    — al, 1 May 2021
  • Robinson then grabbed the teen and wrestled the gun out of the youth’s hands, authorities said.
    — Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 15 May 2023
  • The Dodgers hit just two balls with any sort of authority.
    — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2022
  • This is not helpful to the authorities or to the animal.
    — Cyndi Schramm, Houston Chronicle, 10 Sep. 2019
  • The issue was a lack of authority, not a lack of money.
    — James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 13 June 2019
  • And rather than asking more questions, the authorities take you at your word and close the case.
    — oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2019
  • What good is such authority, if it is not put to use in a crisis?
    — Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2022
  • That record was long the source of the company’s authority.
    — Christopher Beha, Harper’s Magazine , 18 Jan. 2022
  • Slick conditions caused the car to leave the road, authorities said.
    — Michael Katz, idahostatesman, 23 Dec. 2017
  • As authorities began to secure the area, I was told to leave the grounds.
    — TIME.com, 22 Dec. 2017
  • So that will be key for each local tourism authority to have a say.
    — Katherine Lagrave, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2018
  • French was then able to gain control of the taser and tased the officer, authorities say.
    — John Sharp | , al, 7 Apr. 2023
  • The parole authority was to pick him up at the hospital.
    — cleveland, 13 Oct. 2021
  • The nuance in these posts gives them heft and authority, even when they’re couched as jokes.
    — New York Times, 5 Feb. 2021
  • The authorities are done with asking you nicely to slow down.
    — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, 25 Oct. 2017
  • The girl’s bicycle was found on the loop, authorities said.
    — Antonio Planas, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2023
  • The party has the authority to pick its nominee in cases of a tie vote.
    — Mike Cason | McAson@al.com, al, 27 June 2022
  • State plans vary depending on the rules of your state tax authority.
    — Julian Kheel, CNN Underscored, 9 July 2020
  • The revision text is silent on who or what will have such authority.
    — Mary Ellen Klas, miamiherald, 12 July 2018
  • Haag, who lived in the basement of the house, was not at home when the mother arrived, authorities said.
    — Julie Shaw, Philly.com, 6 Apr. 2018
  • What’s up with all those pop stars who no longer dare to challenge authority?
    — Armond White, National Review, 2 Dec. 2020
  • The dead were between the ages of 5 and 7, authorities said.
    — Laís Martins and Lucas Dumphreys, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2023
  • British authorities fined Deutsche Bank over the same scheme.
    — Emily Stewart, Vox, 30 Nov. 2018
  • The Taiwanese authorities have a way to plug that loophole, too.
    — Mary Hui, Quartz, 31 Mar. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'authority.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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