potential

1 of 2

adjective

po·ten·tial pə-ˈten(t)-shəl How to pronounce potential (audio)

: existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality

potential benefits

: expressing possibility

specifically : of, relating to, or constituting a verb phrase expressing possibility, liberty, or power by the use of an auxiliary with the infinitive of the verb (as in "it may rain")

potential

2 of 2

noun

: something that can develop or become actual

a potential for violence

: promise sense 2

: any of various functions from which the intensity or the velocity at any point in a field may be readily calculated

: the work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point (as at infinity) to a point in question

: potential difference

Did you know?

Potential can be either good or bad. Studying hard increases the potential for success, but wet roads increase the potential for accidents. But when a person or thing "has potential", we always expect something good from it in the future. As an adjective (as in "potential losses", "potential benefits", etc.), potential usually means simply "possible". In science, however, the adjective has a special meaning: Potential energy is the kind of stored energy that a boulder sitting at the top of a cliff has (the opposite of kinetic energy, which is what it has as it rolls down that cliff).

Example Sentences

Adjective Doctors are excited about the new drug's potential benefits. Critics say the factory poses a potential threat to the environment. He is a potential candidate for president. The project has potential risks. Noun Scientists are exploring the potentials of the new drug. The new technology has the potential to transform the industry. There is potential in the new technology, but it will be a long time before it can actually be used. The company has a lot of potential for future growth. He has the potential to be one of the team's best players. He shows enormous potential as an athlete. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The United Nations has warned the world faces potential food shortages.

Vibhuti Agarwal, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Other potential sources of help are the Medicare hotline (800-633-4227) and your state's department of aging, which can direct you to community organizations that help with applications.

Judith Graham, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 Analysts say the club, valued at $1.4 billion by Forbes, would be attractive to potential bidders.

Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2022 All members of the school district have been advised to change their passwords to lower the potential threat posed to them.

Beck Andrew Salgado, Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 The goal of embedding behavioral health with physical is that primary care providers can screen early for any potential problems and intervene early.

Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 9 Sep. 2022 Two of Arizona's top girls high school golf programs faced off this week in a potential Division I championship preview.

Lucas Gordon, The Arizona Republic, 9 Sep. 2022 The potential partner, Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), on Thursday postponed a shareholder vote to extend by a year a deadline to close its merger with Trump's company and release funds to pay its bills.

CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 The secrecy of the board's potential action against the governor has prompted some criticism from government ethics experts who say the board should be transparent.

Stephen Groves, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022

Noun

The Marvel star and director Darren Aronofsky tease their new National Geographic show on Disney+, which aims to explore the potential of the human body.

Devan Coggan, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2022 At least two utilities in Oregon began shutting off power Friday morning in some areas as a preventive measure to lower the potential for fresh fire outbreaks, after fire officials there warned that conditions created a high risk.

Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 Denying it only shows a lack of appreciation for the profound long-term potential of the Longhorns, and maybe even the history of Texas, too.

Joseph Goodman | Jgoodman@al.com, al, 9 Sep. 2022 Last season, Peoples-Jones flashed potential with 34 catches for 597 yards and 3 TDs, but struggled down the stretch as Baker Mayfield faltered.

cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022 Mohajir worried about the possibility of backlash within the community, but there’s also a strong potential to reinforce negative generalizations about Muslim sexuality outside of the community.

Emma Green, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2022 Part of that includes the potential to participate in Hendrick and Chevy’s Garage 56 project at Le Mans.

Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Sep. 2022 As Apple’s passkeys are based on the wider passwordless standards created by the FIDO Alliance, there’s the potential that they can be stored elsewhere, too.

WIRED, 9 Sep. 2022 The potential for heavy rain Sunday could dramatically alter the game’s dynamic and put Soldier Field’s new Bermuda grass to the test.

Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 See More

potential 1 of 2

adjective

as in possible

existing only as a possibility and not in fact I can see a few potential problems with co-owning a beach house with another couple

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

possible
implicit
probable
plausible
hypothetical
conceivable
theoretical
viable
generable
alleged
purported
feasible
theoretic
likely
imaginable
achievable
supposed
thinkable
practicable
assumed
conjectural
suppositional
attainable
workable
doable
reputed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

real
actual
factual
existent
demonstrated
confirmed
true
genuine
established
bona fide
proven
authentic
substantiated
authenticated

potential

2 of 2

noun

as in possibility

something that can develop or become actual a time when cloning was merely a potential and the stuff of science fiction

Synonyms & Similar Words

possibility
prospect
potentiality
capability
likelihood
probability
eventuality
potency
latency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reality
certainty
actuality

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of potential are dormant, latent, and quiescent. While all these words mean "not now showing signs of activity or existence," potential applies to what does not yet have existence or effect but is likely soon to have.

a potential disaster

The words dormant and potential can be used in similar contexts, but dormant suggests the inactivity of something (such as a feeling or power) as though sleeping.

their passion had lain dormant

While the synonyms latent and potential are close in meaning, latent applies to a power or quality that has not yet come forth but may emerge and develop.

a latent desire for success

While in some cases nearly identical to potential, quiescent suggests a usually temporary cessation of activity.

the disease was quiescent

单词	potential
释义	potential 1 of 2 adjective po·ten·tial pə-ˈten(t)-shəl 1 : existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality potential benefits 2 : expressing possibility specifically : of, relating to, or constituting a verb phrase expressing possibility, liberty, or power by the use of an auxiliary with the infinitive of the verb (as in "it may rain") potential 2 of 2 noun 1 a : something that can develop or become actual a potential for violence b : promise sense 2 2 a : any of various functions from which the intensity or the velocity at any point in a field may be readily calculated b : the work required to move a unit positive charge from a reference point (as at infinity) to a point in question c : potential difference Did you know? Potential can be either good or bad. Studying hard increases the potential for success, but wet roads increase the potential for accidents. But when a person or thing "has potential", we always expect something good from it in the future. As an adjective (as in "potential losses", "potential benefits", etc.), potential usually means simply "possible". In science, however, the adjective has a special meaning: Potential energy is the kind of stored energy that a boulder sitting at the top of a cliff has (the opposite of kinetic energy, which is what it has as it rolls down that cliff). Synonyms Adjective implicit possible Noun capability eventuality possibility potentiality prospect See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective Doctors are excited about the new drug's potential benefits. Critics say the factory poses a potential threat to the environment. He is a potential candidate for president. The project has potential risks. Noun Scientists are exploring the potentials of the new drug. The new technology has the potential to transform the industry. There is potential in the new technology, but it will be a long time before it can actually be used. The company has a lot of potential for future growth. He has the potential to be one of the team's best players. He shows enormous potential as an athlete. See More Recent Examples on the Web Adjective The United Nations has warned the world faces potential food shortages. Vibhuti Agarwal, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Other potential sources of help are the Medicare hotline (800-633-4227) and your state's department of aging, which can direct you to community organizations that help with applications. Judith Graham, CNN, 9 Sep. 2022 Analysts say the club, valued at $1.4 billion by Forbes, would be attractive to potential bidders. Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2022 All members of the school district have been advised to change their passwords to lower the potential threat posed to them. Beck Andrew Salgado, Journal Sentinel, 9 Sep. 2022 The goal of embedding behavioral health with physical is that primary care providers can screen early for any potential problems and intervene early. Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 9 Sep. 2022 Two of Arizona's top girls high school golf programs faced off this week in a potential Division I championship preview. Lucas Gordon, The Arizona Republic, 9 Sep. 2022 The potential partner, Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), on Thursday postponed a shareholder vote to extend by a year a deadline to close its merger with Trump's company and release funds to pay its bills. CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 The secrecy of the board's potential action against the governor has prompted some criticism from government ethics experts who say the board should be transparent. Stephen Groves, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022 Noun The Marvel star and director Darren Aronofsky tease their new National Geographic show on Disney+, which aims to explore the potential of the human body. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 10 Sep. 2022 At least two utilities in Oregon began shutting off power Friday morning in some areas as a preventive measure to lower the potential for fresh fire outbreaks, after fire officials there warned that conditions created a high risk. Ginger Adams Otis, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 Denying it only shows a lack of appreciation for the profound long-term potential of the Longhorns, and maybe even the history of Texas, too. Joseph Goodman \| Jgoodman@al.com, al, 9 Sep. 2022 Last season, Peoples-Jones flashed potential with 34 catches for 597 yards and 3 TDs, but struggled down the stretch as Baker Mayfield faltered. cleveland, 9 Sep. 2022 Mohajir worried about the possibility of backlash within the community, but there’s also a strong potential to reinforce negative generalizations about Muslim sexuality outside of the community. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2022 Part of that includes the potential to participate in Hendrick and Chevy’s Garage 56 project at Le Mans. Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 9 Sep. 2022 As Apple’s passkeys are based on the wider passwordless standards created by the FIDO Alliance, there’s the potential that they can be stored elsewhere, too. WIRED, 9 Sep. 2022 The potential for heavy rain Sunday could dramatically alter the game’s dynamic and put Soldier Field’s new Bermuda grass to the test. Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English potencial, from Late Latin potentialis, from potentia potentiality, from Latin, power, from potent-, potens First Known Use Adjective 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Phrases Containing potential action potential biotic potential potential energy potential difference reach/realize one's full potential growth potential action potential biotic potential potential energy potential difference reach/realize one's full potential growth potential Kids Definition potential 1 of 2 adjective po·ten·tial pə-ˈten-shəl : existing as a possibility : capable of becoming real potential dangers potential 2 of 2 noun 1 : the chance or possibility that something will develop and become real There is a potential for injury. 2 : an ability or quality that can lead to success or excellence : promise She has great potential as a musician. Medical Definition potential 1 of 2 adjective po·ten·tial pə-ˈten-chəl : existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality potential 2 of 2 noun 1 : something that can develop or become actual 2 a : any of various functions from which the intensity or the velocity at any point in a field may be readily calculated specifically : electrical potential b : potential difference potential 1 of 2 adjective as in possible existing only as a possibility and not in fact I can see a few potential problems with co-owning a beach house with another couple Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance possible implicit probable plausible hypothetical conceivable theoretical viable generable alleged purported feasible theoretic likely imaginable achievable supposed thinkable practicable assumed conjectural suppositional attainable workable doable reputed Antonyms & Near Antonyms real actual factual existent demonstrated confirmed true genuine established bona fide proven authentic substantiated authenticated See More potential 2 of 2 noun as in possibility something that can develop or become actual a time when cloning was merely a potential and the stuff of science fiction Synonyms & Similar Words possibility prospect potentiality capability likelihood probability eventuality potency latency Antonyms & Near Antonyms reality certainty actuality Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of potential are dormant, latent, and quiescent. While all these words mean "not now showing signs of activity or existence," potential applies to what does not yet have existence or effect but is likely soon to have. a potential disaster The words dormant and potential can be used in similar contexts, but dormant suggests the inactivity of something (such as a feeling or power) as though sleeping. their passion had lain dormant While the synonyms latent and potential are close in meaning, latent applies to a power or quality that has not yet come forth but may emerge and develop. a latent desire for success While in some cases nearly identical to potential, quiescent suggests a usually temporary cessation of activity. the disease was quiescent
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potential

adjective

noun

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing potential

Kids Definition

adjective

noun

Medical Definition

adjective

noun

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser